A Cuban Lyft driver in Louisville, Kentucky, is facing serious criminal charges in the United States after being accused of sexually assaulting a passenger during a ride to a medical appointment.
Yordan Díaz Vera, 34 years old, was arrested after being identified by a mother of four children who, according to the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD), accused him of first-degree sodomy, kidnapping, and making threats.
According to a report from Fox News, the incident occurred on February 4, when the woman requested a Lyft to attend a medical appointment. During the ride, Díaz Vera allegedly opened the vehicle's glove compartment and displayed a firearm. He then reportedly stopped the car in the parking lot of a church, locked the doors, and moved to the back seat, where, according to the complaint, he forced the victim to engage in sexual acts.
The woman was able to alert the authorities after being left at the medical office. The arrest occurred the following day in the parking lot of a supermarket. The police indicated that, so far, there is no evidence that the incident is part of a pattern of similar assaults, according to statements gathered by Fox News.
The case took an additional turn when it was revealed that Díaz Vera is subject to a migration hold issued by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), indicating that federal authorities believe he could be facing deportation.
Breitbart reported that the driver would be a Cuban immigrant who entered the United States irregularly in 2022. However, the victim's lawyer told local media that the accused had a work permit and was awaiting a migration hearing to regularize his status.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately confirm their exact immigration status, but police records indicate the existence of an "immigration detainer".
Currently, Díaz Vera remains in custody with a cash bond of $100,000, in addition to the federal immigration order. The case is expected to be presented to a grand jury in March, according to reports from local television WDRB.
Lyft reported that the driver has been permanently removed from the platform and is cooperating with the investigation. “The behavior described is reprehensible and has no place in the community or in society,” a company spokesperson stated in remarks reported by WLKY Louisville.
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