Texas Man Charged with Armed Kidnapping of Rideshare Driver

MIAMI - A Texas man was charged with kidnapping a rideshare driver at gunpoint and forcing the driver to travel to South Florida.

According to allegations in the criminal complaint, a rideshare driver working in Arlington, Texas, picked up Miguel Alejandro Pastran Hernandez, 23, on Aug. 16 at approximately 10:30 p.m. Pastran Hernandez had ordered a ride to a closed gas station. When they arrived at the gas station, Pastran Hernandez pulled out a gun and the victim heard a round being chambered in the firearm. Pastran Hernandez threatened to tie up and put the driver in the back of the vehicle. Pastran Hernandez then ordered the victim to drive to Florida, through multiple states. When they arrived in south Florida, Pastran Hernandez discussed his plan to kidnap another victim for ransom. On Aug. 19, Pastran Hernandez made the victim drive to a store in Hialeah to buy supplies for the second kidnapping. While at the store, the victim fled from Pastran Hernandez who was later arrested and found in possession of a bag containing a loaded firearm.

During his appearance in Miami federal court on Aug. 20, on charges of kidnapping, carjacking and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, Pastran Hernandez was ordered detained. A pre-trial detention hearing is scheduled for Aug. 26. An arraignment hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the charges.

FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Hannah is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-mj-3751.

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