HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Four rideshare drivers were federally indicted and accused of kidnapping passengers in the Houston area and sexually assaulting them.
ABC13 has previously reported on this issue, including the time a woman sued Uber after she was allegedly sexually assaulted while using the service.
Federal court documents confirm Abdou Mbacke, Cesar Martell, Janaka Manatunga, and Barney Flores are charged with kidnapping and could face a life sentence if found guilty.
Three of the four men have been arrested. The FBI says the fourth man is on the run.
In a news conference Thursday afternoon, federal authorities said there may be more victims out there and are urging them to call and report it to the FBI.
U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of Texas, Nicholas Ganjei, said on Thursday afternoon that people should not confuse convenience for safety as their agency, in conjunction with local and federal law enforcement launch Operation Light House.
“To combat a persistent and disturbing problem – sexual assault committed by ride share drivers against their passengers,” said Ganjei. “And when a driver abuses his trust by using his position of power to sexually assault a passenger, particularly one that is incapacitated or otherwise unable of defending themselves, they cease being providers and become predators.”
This is an initiative the U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of Texas says is aimed at delivering justice, bringing awareness to the problem, and serving as a warning to would-be abusers that they could face life in prison for kidnapping and assaulting passengers.
“We will find you. We will arrest you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law and in this instance, federal law,” said FBI Houston Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Ryan Whalen.
Court documents show Barney Flores is accused of sexually assaulting a passenger in May 2025.
Abdou Mbacke, who remains on the run, is accused of kidnapping a woman and taking her to a motel to sexually assault her in December 2023. Harris County confirms he also has state charges.
Janaka Manatunga, who is also charged in Montgomery County for his accused crimes, has also been indicted with kidnapping, accused of preventing a passenger from leaving, and sexually assaulting her in April of 2025.
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Federal officials say Cesar Martell has two counts of kidnapping charges for two different victims, one in 2021 and the other in 2023. In both cases, he’s accused of sexually assaulting the victims and strangling them. Harris County Sheriff’s Office officials confirm he’s also on probation for attempted aggravated sexual assault and attempted sexual assault in Harris County.
When the Ganjei was asked why they were charged federally if three of the four men already face state charges, he said they have different resources and what they call “structural advantages.”
Through Operation Lighthouse, authorities aim to uncover more victims of this kind of crime and bring criminals to justice.
“There are cases where the reverse is true… where passengers hail a ride share ride in order to sexually assault the driver. We are just as interested in those cases and want to hear from those victims as well,” said Ganjei.
Authorities believe the four men may have more victims and are urging them to report it to the FBI.
The FBI says they also want to hear from other victims who have been sexually assaulted by rideshare drivers, as well as drivers who have been sexually assaulted by passengers. If you have been in any of these situations, you’re asked to call 1800 CALL FBI or Tips.FBI.Gov to make a report.
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