On December 3, Miguel Alejandro Pastran Hernandez, aged 24, admitted guilt to the armed kidnapping of a rideshare driver. The incident began on August 16 near Arlington, Texas, when Pastran Hernandez forced the driver at gunpoint to transport him from Texas to South Florida.
The event unfolded late in the evening when Victim 1 picked up Pastran Hernandez as part of their work with a ride-sharing application. Upon reaching a seemingly closed gas station, Pastran Hernandez revealed what appeared to be a firearm and demanded that Victim 1 drive him to Florida instead of leaving the vehicle.
Throughout the journey, Pastran Hernandez utilized a mobile app to track law enforcement locations and instructed Victim 1 accordingly. He also discovered an unloaded blue handgun in the vehicle and kept it loaded for the remainder of the trip.
Upon arriving in Miami Beach on August 18, Pastran Hernandez surveilled another potential victim's residence. He expressed intentions to kidnap this individual or their family member for ransom. The following day, he directed Victim 1 to purchase supplies for this plan but fled when police arrived at the store.
Authorities apprehended Pastran Hernandez hours later in Hollywood, Florida. They found Victim 1’s loaded handgun on him and various items in his backpack suggesting further criminal intent.
Pastran Hernandez will face sentencing on February 20, 2025. He could receive up to life imprisonment following his guilty plea to charges including kidnapping and carjacking. Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga will determine his sentence based on several legal guidelines.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe announced these charges alongside Special Agent Jeffrey B. Veltri from the FBI's Miami Field Office. The FBI Miami conducted investigations while Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Hannah leads prosecution efforts.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime through community collaboration and strategic law enforcement actions.
Further details are available under case number 24-cr-20380 on the Southern District of Florida court website.