Rideshare Driver Charged with Sexual Assault

An illegal immigrant working as a rideshare driver in Maryland has been accused of sexually assaulting a teenage female passenger, and federal authorities have revealed that he has a history of sexual offenses in New York.

Abdoulaye Dia, originally from Guinea in West Africa, faces several serious charges including first-degree rape, kidnapping, second-degree assault, and third-degree sex offenses, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

On Tuesday, police in Montgomery County received a report of a rape from an underage girl at a local hospital. She informed law enforcement that the assault took place in a vehicle operated by an Empower rideshare driver.

According to officials, Dia allegedly took the girl to a parking lot in Silver Spring, Maryland, where the incident occurred. The authorities were able to identify him through data from the rideshare app.

Dia was arrested on Wednesday following the report.

Empower, the rideshare company, stated that all its drivers must pass thorough background checks, which include checks for sex offenses, driving records, and other relevant information. They also stated that Dia’s background check, conducted on July 16, 2026, showed no prior incidents.

The company added that they had cooperated fully with the Montgomery County Police Department once they learned of the situation, providing all the necessary information for the investigation.

Interestingly, Dia has a prior criminal history; he was arrested in New York City on June 10 for various sexual offenses, including sexual abuse by forcible compulsion and sexual abuse against a minor. He entered the United States illegally through Arizona in December 2023 and was reportedly released by the Biden administration.

Authorities continue to investigate the case, and Fox News Digital has attempted to reach out to Empower for further comments.