Lyft Driver Faces Deportation After Alleged Assault

A Lyft driver, Yordan Diaz-Vera, is now under the threat of deportation after being accused of sexually assaulting a female passenger while waiting for a doctor’s appointment. He is reportedly in the U.S. illegally.

According to the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD), the 34-year-old from Louisville faces serious charges including first-degree sodomy, menacing, and kidnapping. This information comes from police records obtained by various sources.

Federal authorities are looking into his case, suggesting he might qualify for deportation based on his detention records by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) hasn’t confirmed his immigration status yet.

The alleged incident took place in early February involving a mother of four. She had called for a Lyft to get from her home to a chiropractor appointment.

Police reports indicate that Diaz-Vera picked her up, retrieved a gun from his glove compartment, parked in a church parking lot, and then moved her to the back seat of the vehicle.

Authorities claim that when the victim attempted to escape, she found the doors were locked and was coerced into performing a sexual act.

After the incident, her chiropractor contacted the police as he dropped her off at the office, according to her lawyer. The event occurred on February 4, and Diaz-Vera was arrested the following day in a supermarket parking lot.

Diaz-Vera has pleaded not guilty and is currently being held at the Metro Correctional Facility with a bail set at $100,000. There’s an immigration detainer in place as well, and the case is due for review by a grand jury in March.

The victim’s attorney stated that Diaz-Vera, who entered the U.S. illegally from Cuba in 2022, had a work permit and was waiting for a hearing on his legal status when he was arrested.

It remains uncertain whether, even if he were illegal, he could secure the necessary documentation to work as a ride-share driver. Lyft has certain requirements in place, including a valid driver’s license and Social Security number.

A spokesperson for Lyft condemned the driver’s behavior, stating that such conduct is unacceptable within their community. They confirmed that the driver has been removed from the platform and that they are cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation.