U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe | U.S. Department of Justice
On December 3, Miguel Alejandro Pastran Hernandez, 24, entered a guilty plea for the armed kidnapping of a rideshare driver. The incident involved forcing the victim to drive from Texas to South Florida.
The event began on August 16, around 10:30 p.m., when Victim 1 was operating as a driver for a rideshare application near Arlington, Texas. Pastran Hernandez was picked up and taken to his destination, a seemingly closed gas station. It was there that Pastran Hernandez brandished what appeared to be a firearm. Although Victim 1 offered their possessions in exchange for leaving the vehicle, Pastran Hernandez instructed them otherwise and ordered them to drive to Florida instead.
During the journey, Pastran Hernandez utilized a mobile app to avoid law enforcement locations and informed Victim 1 about additional firearms in his luggage. Upon discovering an unloaded blue handgun in Victim 1's vehicle, he loaded it and used it throughout the ordeal to ensure compliance.
Arriving in Miami Beach on August 18, Pastran Hernandez surveilled another potential target described as a social media influencer with intentions of demanding ransom. The following day, he compelled Victim 1 to purchase supplies for this plan at a store in Hialeah. However, police presence led him to flee on foot.
Pastran Hernandez was apprehended hours later at a park in Hollywood, Florida. He had possession of Victim 1's loaded blue handgun and various other items found later in his backpack.
His sentencing is set for February 20, 2025 before Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga. Following his guilty plea on charges including kidnapping and carjacking with firearm possession during a crime of violence, he faces potential life imprisonment after judicial review under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The case announcement came from U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and FBI Special Agent Jeffrey B. Veltri from Miami Field Office.
FBI Miami conducted the investigation while Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Hannah leads prosecution efforts.
This situation forms part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which unites law enforcement with communities aiming to diminish gun-related incidents and violence overall while enhancing safety nationwide.
Court documents related can be accessed through Southern District of Florida's website or PACER under case number 24-cr-20380.
