Four Uber drivers are facing charges related to kidnapping and attempted sexual assault in a series of disturbing incidents. Three of the accused individuals, namely Barney Flores, aged 35, Cesar Martell, aged 32, and Janake Manatunga, aged 57, are scheduled to appear in a federal court in Houston, Texas, while the fourth driver, Abdou Mbacke, aged 42, has fled the country.
Mbacke is accused of an incident involving a woman who alleged that she blacked out in his taxi and woke up undressed in a motel room next to him. The FBI suspects there may be additional victims and is encouraging anyone with relevant information to come forward.
In a separate case from December 2023, Mbacke is said to have diverted a 22-year-old passenger to a motel after she became intoxicated, leading to her waking up next to him undressed. Following the woman’s report, Uber promptly deactivated Mbacke’s account, who subsequently left the US on a one-way flight on July 24 of the same year.
Janake Manatunga is accused of locking a drunk female passenger in his vehicle and attempting a sexual assault, resulting in Uber terminating his contract upon receiving the complaint.
Cesar Martell was arrested in January 2024 after DNA evidence linked him to a 2021 assault. Multiple female passengers have come forward with kidnapping and sexual assault allegations against him, including an incident in June 2021 where he reportedly tried to assault and strangle a woman at a gas station before she escaped.
Martell is also accused of a May 2023 incident where he allegedly instructed a victim to book a ride outside the Uber app to avoid detection, subsequently kidnapping and sexually assaulting her. Uber took immediate action by removing Martell from its platform upon learning of the accusations.
Barney Flores is alleged to have locked a passenger in his vehicle and made an attempted sexual assault, continuing to drive until the victim escaped and reported the incident to authorities.
During a press briefing, Ryan Whalen, Assistant Special Agent in Charge at FBI Houston, emphasized the consequences for ride-hailing drivers engaging in criminal acts against passengers, introducing Operation Lighthouse to combat such assaults and ensure prosecution under federal law.
Uber responded to the Houston allegations, condemning sexual assault and kidnapping as intolerable crimes. The company stated that upon learning of the incidents, the drivers involved were banned from the platform, highlighting their commitment to safety through a dedicated team that collaborates with law enforcement and implements enhanced safety measures promptly in response to serious safety concerns.
