Charges Filed Against Illegal Immigrant Rideshare Driver

An illegal immigrant working as a rideshare driver is facing serious charges after allegedly sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Maryland. Federal authorities have indicated that Abdoulaye Dia, who resides in Lanham, Maryland, has a troubling history of sex-related offenses in New York.

Dia was charged with first-degree rape, kidnapping, second-degree assault, and a third-degree sex offense, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The situation unfolded when Montgomery County Police responded to a report of rape from a minor at a local hospital. The victim claimed that an Empower rideshare driver was responsible for the assault.

During the alleged incident, Dia reportedly took the girl to a parking lot in Silver Spring. Authorities were able to identify him using data from the rideshare app, leading to his arrest on Wednesday.

Empower, the rideshare company involved, stated that all drivers undergo thorough background checks, including checks for sex offender status, motor vehicle history, and Social Security verification. They also claim to use the same global watchlist screening process as Uber and Lyft. “The background check conducted on Dia on July 16 did not reveal any incidents,” a company representative noted, adding that they have fully cooperated with law enforcement in this investigation.

Interestingly, Dia had previously been arrested in New York City on June 10 for multiple sex crimes, including sexual abuse by forcible compulsion and injuring a minor. He crossed into the U.S. illegally via Arizona in December 2023 and was later released by the Biden administration, DHS has confirmed.

As the investigation continues, it raises questions about how such individuals are vetted and the implications of their past actions.