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An Arlington man pleaded guilty to kidnapping a Lyft driver at gunpoint and forcing him to drive 1,300 miles to South Florida.
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The suspect planned to kidnap a social media influencer or their family for a $3 million ransom.
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He was arrested in Florida after running from police, and now may face life in prison.
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An Arlington man pleaded guilty to kidnapping a Lyft driver at gunpoint and forcing him to drive 1,300 miles to South Florida.
-
The suspect planned to kidnap a social media influencer or their family for a $3 million ransom.
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He was arrested in Florida after running from police, and now may face life in prison.
After forcing a Lyft driver to travel more than 1,300 miles to South Florida at gunpoint, an Arlington man entered a guilty plea.
The rideshare driver was kidnapped by 24-year-old Miguel Alejandro Pastran Hernandez on August 16 at 10:30 p.m. in the Arlington area.
Pastran Hernandez was first dumped off at a closed gas station in North Texas by the driver, but things quickly became deadly.
Pastran Hernandez threatened to tie the driver up and put him in the back of the car or force him to drive to Florida while pointing a gun at his head. That evening, the two set out on the cross-country trek.
Pastran Hernandez avoided the police by using a phone app to track their whereabouts during the drive. In order to keep control, he also found that the driver had an unloaded rifle in the vehicle, which he took.
After traveling for over two days, the two reached Miami Beach on August 18. Pastran Hernandez told the driver that he intended to kidnap a family member or social media personality and demand a $3 million ransom.
Pastran Hernandez made a trip at a gas station in Hialeah, Florida, the following day to get supplies for kidnapping. He kept the car keys there but let the driver use the restroom. Pastran Hernandez escaped on foot when police arrived at the site and tried to arrest him.
Officers found him in a Hollywood, Florida park a few hours later. Police discovered the driver’s revolver, loaded, on Pastran Hernandez at the time of his arrest.
Inside the Lyft driver’s car, officers also found a backpack containing knives, BB and airsoft pistols, binoculars, zip ties, a mask, and other suspicious objects.
The sentencing date for Pastran Hernandez is set for February 20, 2025. now pleaded guilty to kidnapping, carjacking, and possessing a firearm during a violent crime, and now risks life in jail.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Miami field office, and the prosecution is being handled by Florida Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Hannah.
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The United States Attorney’s Office provided the information for this article.
The United States Attorney’s Office provided the information for this article.
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