Alleged ‘sexual escapade’ turned armed robbery at Fort Wayne hotel leads to four arrests

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) – Four Allen County residents are facing armed robbery charges after allegedly participating in a plot to rob a man from a dating app at gunpoint and a machete.

The suspects, 39-year-old Cassandra Ehinger, 46-year-old Wilfredo Rivera Jr., 31-year-old Joseph Drummond and 43-year-old Richard Grant, are all being held in the Allen County Jail.

Police were dispatched to a convenience store near the Hawthorn Extended Stay on Lima Road for reports of a robbery around 2 a.m. Tuesday, according to probable cause affidavits. The victim told police he went to the hotel to meet a woman he met on a dating app, later identified as Ehinger.

The victim said Ehinger led him to a room and closed the door behind him, court records show. Then three men confronted him and allegedly said they wanted to kill him.

Rivera is accused of threatening the victim with a gun, while Drummond is accused of holding a machete to his throat, court documents say. Grant allegedly punched the man.

Drummond then allegedly removed the victim’s jacket and took $300 from it.

Ehinger allegedly admitted to police that she helped set up the robbery and that she met with the victim for a “sexual escapade,” according to court records. Police say she “lured the victim to this location under the guise of prostitution to take property from the victim.”

Each of the suspects faces an armed robbery charge in connection with the incident. Rivera and Drummond are also charged with making threats.

In addition to his armed robbery and menacing charges, Drummond has also been charged with possession of cocaine, court records show. A substance police found in his pocket reportedly tested positive for the presence of fentanyl.