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Four years ago Houston-area Uber The driver is accused of trying to kidnapping and sexual assault their passengers.
Cesar Martell, Barney Steve Flores, Janaka Manatunga and Abdul Mback face federal kidnapping charges. Prosecutors claimed that each used his own Uber account to lure victims into their cars.
In December 2023, Mbake picked up a 22-year-old woman who was drunk and passed out in the car. He allegedly took the incapacitated woman to a motel instead of her intended destination. The woman told investigators that when she woke up, she was naked and moved to the bed next to Mback. After regaining consciousness, she began to panic and asked him questions, but he allegedly ignored her and left the motel.
The same day the woman reported the incident, Uber terminated his account, according to company records. Investigators said that on July 24, 2025, Mbake booked a one-way flight from the United States the next day. His current whereabouts are unknown.
According to investigators, Martell was involved in two incidents. The first incident occurred in June 2021, when he allegedly drove a woman to an abandoned gas station and attempted to sexually assault her and strangle her. The woman managed to escape from his car.
In a second incident in May 2023, investigators say he lured another victim into contacting him outside the Uber app for a discounted ride. This allowed him to pick up the woman without being recorded in his Uber record. He allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted the passenger.
Before his arrest, Martell was on probation for two other charges, including attempted aggravated sexual assault and attempted sexual assault. A third sexual assault case against him has been dismissed, according to court records.
Manatunga allegedly attacked a woman in April 2025 after picking her up and taking her to a parking lot. Court documents say he locked the woman in his car and attempted to sexually assault her. Uber terminated its contract with the driver after the victim reported the incident.
Flores was charged in connection with a May 2025 incident in which he allegedly restrained a passenger in a vehicle and attempted to sexually assault her while inside. He then allegedly continued driving. At some point, the victim managed to flee the vehicle and reported the incident to police. Uber terminated Flores’ contract the same day the incident was reported.
Federal officials said three of the four former drivers were in custody. Mback remains at large.
Officials said the manhunt for Mback remains active.
Uber released a statement following the announcement.
“When we became aware of these allegations, we immediately banned the driver in question and removed their access to the app,” the company said. “We have a dedicated global team, including former law enforcement professionals, available 24/7 to assist with active investigations. They have been cooperating with federal prosecutors and will continue to do so.”
It added that “security is fundamental to what we do” and pledged to “continue to invest in innovative security features, support law enforcement and act quickly when serious allegations are received.”