The family of a 16-year-old girl from Long Island, who was reportedly assaulted in New York City by someone she connected with on Snapchat, is holding Uber partly responsible for their daughter’s traumatic experience.
The girl, an Orthodox Jew, was allegedly taken to Brooklyn without any verification, where she met a man who sexually assaulted her in his vehicle, capturing the incident on video, as stated in the lawsuit filed against the ride-sharing service.
“As a consequence of this assault, my daughter has endured significant physical and emotional pain,” her mother claimed in court documentation.
The ordeal began on March 10, when the girl left her close-knit home in Nassau County and got into an Uber that her alleged assailant had booked. Her family believed that the night out should have concluded there.
Uber has policies that prohibit individuals under 18 from hailing rides alone, except under certain conditions tailored for youth accounts.
According to Uber’s guidelines, if a driver suspects a passenger is a minor, they should request a driver’s license or some form of ID for verification. If confirmed to be a minor, the driver should not begin the trip or allow them to ride.
Instead, it’s claimed that the driver dropped her off in Bushwick without ensuring her safety or accompanying her, which went against Uber’s youth policies.
The victim reportedly did not realize the risk she was in at that moment.
Afterward, the victim was introduced to Ralphie Figueroa, who was later arrested and charged with first-degree rape for allegedly assaulting her that night.
According to authorities, the two had been in contact online since at least January, during which Figueroa paid her $35 for explicit photos, although she only sent images found online.
On the day of the incident, Figueroa allegedly contacted the girl via Snapchat, demanding she meet him while threatening her. “You have to do it. I know your address. Please confirm your address. If you don’t, I’m going to hurt you and your family,” he purportedly said.
Once inside his car, he allegedly proposed $1,000 for oral sex. After she refused, he forced her to vomit and threatened to harm her family, claiming he had a gun, says the complaint.
The family lawyer, David Seideman, mentioned that the assailant recorded the assault. Once it was over, Figueroa ordered another Uber to take the victim home but canceled the ride after getting into the car, according to police reports.
The victim is now undergoing mental health treatment at a facility outside the state, as reported by her family.
Her mother expressed deep concern, stating, “My daughter told me that she would kill herself if the video of the assault was released,” as they seek unspecified damages from Uber.
At the time of the incident, Figueroa had just completed an alternative-to-incarceration program for individuals under 27.
Following his arrest in July for selling drugs to an undercover officer in Bushwick, he was assigned to a rehabilitation program as part of a plea deal, which was not bailable.
Figueroa now faces the possibility of his plea agreement being revoked, along with a potential nine-year prison sentence, according to the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office.
“We have requested a hearing to ascertain whether Ralphie Figueroa breached the terms of his plea agreements related to felony and misdemeanor drug offenses and should be sentenced immediately for those charges,” stated spokesperson Kati Cornell.
Figueroa, who has pleaded not guilty to the rape charges, is currently being held at Rikers Island on a $100,000 bail, and his lawyer opted not to comment.
In response to the situation, Uber said it encourages drivers to cancel trips involving unaccompanied minors lacking the requisite accounts and to report such incidents for further review.
“The details of this incident are truly distressing,” an Uber spokesperson said. “While we cannot discuss ongoing litigation, we remain fully committed to prioritizing safety in all our operations.”
