Four former Uber drivers in the Houston area have been charged with attempting to kidnap and sexually assault their passengers. Federal prosecutors allege that Cesar Martell, Barney Steve Flores, Janaka Manatunga and Abdou Mbacke used their Uber accounts to lure victims into their cars.
In December 2023, Abdou Mbacke picked up a 22-year-old woman who was drunk and passed out. Instead of taking her to her intended destination, he allegedly drove her to a motel. The woman woke up naked in a bed next to Mbacke, who reportedly ignored her and left. Uber terminated his account the same day the crime was reported. On July 24, 2025, Mbacke booked a one-way flight out of the US and his whereabouts are currently unknown.
Cesar Martell is alleged to have been involved in two incidents. In June 2021, he allegedly drove a woman to an abandoned gas station and attempted to sexually assault and strangle her. She managed to escape. In May 2023, he allegedly lured another victim outside the Uber app for a discounted ride, enabling him to pick her up without a logged record, and then kidnapped and sexually assaulted her. Prior to his arrest, Martell was on probation for other charges including attempted aggravated sexual assault.
Janaka Manatunga allegedly assaulted a woman in April 2025 after picking her up and driving to a parking garage, where he locked her in the car and attempted to sexually assault her. Uber terminated his contract after the victim reported the crime. Barney Steve Flores was charged over a May 2025 incident in which he allegedly confined a passenger in his car and tried to sexually assault her. The victim managed to escape and reported the incident to police. Uber terminated Flores' contract the same day.
Three of the four former drivers have been taken into custody; Mbacke remains on the run. Officials said the hunt for him is active and ongoing. Uber stated: 'When we became aware of these allegations, we immediately banned the drivers involved and removed their access to the app.' The company also noted it has a dedicated global team assisting with investigations and continues to invest in safety features and support law enforcement.
