Kentucky Lyft Driver Charged in Alleged Passenger Assault, Federal Detainer Issued

A Louisville, Kentucky Lyft driver facing criminal charges connected to an alleged assault of a passenger is now also the subject of a federal immigration detainer, according to local law enforcement records.

Yordan Diaz Vera, 34, of Louisville, has been charged with first degree crimes of a sexual nature and kidnapping, according to records from the Louisville Metro Police Department, Fox News reported. Authorities confirmed that a U.S. immigration detainer has been lodged, indicating that federal officials are reviewing his immigration status.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately confirm additional details regarding Diaz Vera’s status.

According to the police incident report, the alleged victim told investigators that her doctor’s office arranged a Lyft ride on Feb. 4 to transport her from her home to a scheduled medical appointment.

During the trip, Diaz Vera allegedly displayed a firearm after opening the vehicle’s glove compartment. Police say the driver then stopped the vehicle and moved into the rear passenger area.

Investigators allege the passenger was unable to exit the vehicle at that time. Authorities state that Diaz Vera then forced the passenger into sexual acts.

The alleged victim reported that she contacted police after arriving at her destination.

Louisville Metro Police officials stated that, at present, investigators have not identified evidence suggesting the incident is connected to a broader pattern of related cases.

“The subject was taken into custody quickly due to the prompt reporting and timely investigative actions by the LMPD SVU Office of Sexual and Physical Investigations,” the department said in a statement. “It is our hope that timely investigations and successful prosecutions such as this empower victims—past, present and future—to come forward and communicate with law enforcement.”

Lyft confirmed that Diaz Vera has been permanently removed from the platform.

“The behavior described is reprehensible and has no place in the Lyft community or society,” a Lyft spokesperson said. The company added that it is cooperating with law enforcement authorities.

Lyft noted that drivers must meet eligibility requirements, including holding a valid driver’s license and Social Security number, in order to operate on the platform.

Federal judges with the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ruled earlier this month that Lyft sexual assault lawsuits filed in U.S. District Courts nationwide be consolidated into a multidistrict litigation in the Northern District of California. The panel determined that the cases share common factual questions, particularly allegations that Lyft failed to implement adequate passenger safety protections. Centralization places discovery and pretrial proceedings before a single judge, reducing duplicative litigation and limiting the risk of inconsistent rulings. Judge Rita F. Lin has been assigned to oversee the coordinated proceedings.

Plaintiffs in the MDL raise claims stemming from alleged sexual harassment, assault, and kidnapping by drivers, citing issues such as background check practices, driver oversight, and safety tool effectiveness. The court is expected to select bellwether trials, which test key evidence and legal arguments and often influence settlement discussions. If no global resolution is reached, individual cases may later return to their original courts for trial.