Armed Kidnapping of Rideshare Driver Earns Man 12-Year Prison Sentence

A Texas man is headed to prison for 12 years following a harrowing kidnapping, carjacking, and ransom plot that spanned over 1,300 miles from Texas to Florida.

Key Takeaways

Miguel Alejandro Pastran Hernandez, 24, received a 12-year federal prison sentence for kidnapping a rideshare driver at gunpoint.
The sentence includes a term for possessing a firearm during a violent crime.
The incident began in Arlington, Texas, where Pastran Hernandez forced the driver to travel to South Florida.
Pastran Hernandez planned to kidnap a social media influencer or their family for ransom upon reaching Florida.
He was arrested with multiple weapons and the victim’s loaded handgun in Hollywood, Florida.

Crime and Sentencing

Miguel Alejandro Pastran Hernandez, 24, found himself behind bars after a federal court sentenced him to 12 years in prison. The charges included armed kidnapping, carjacking, and carrying a firearm during a violent crime. The young man, who hails from Texas, kidnapped a rideshare driver using a gun, compelling him to drive to South Florida. This sentence includes 60 months for the kidnapping and carjacking, along with a mandatory consecutive 84-month sentence related to firearms charges.

Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Armed Kidnapping of Ride Share Driver
🔗https://t.co/w0QKb8YcRx @FBIMiamiFL investigated the case.#ProjectSafeNeighborhoods pic.twitter.com/Bz9aq9F00r

— US Attorney SDFL (@USAO_SDFL) February 20, 2025

Plot and Execution

It all started on August 16, when Pastran Hernandez corralled a rideshare driver in Arlington, Texas, to embark on the long journey to South Florida. During the trip, he brandished a firearm to control the victim, loading the driver’s own firearm to maintain the upper hand. Despite the perilous journey, the victim was forced to travel more than 1,300 miles. Pastran Hernandez used a mobile app to evade law enforcement and manipulated the driver to phone his children under false pretenses.

The chilling purpose of this journey was revealed when Pastran Hernandez planned to kidnap a social media influencer or their family for ransom in Miami Beach. On August 19, as he tried to procure supplies for the kidnapping plot, police intervention caused him to flee. His whereabouts were discovered in Hollywood, Florida, equipped with the loaded handgun, Airsoft guns, knives, and zip-ties.

Investigation and Conclusion

The FBI Miami led the investigation with close collaboration from various other law enforcement agencies. Prosecutor Elizabeth Hannah handled the case under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods—a program that strives to curb violent crime. Pastran Hernandez, who pled guilty to kidnapping and carjacking charges and prematurely abandoned his alleged kidnapping plot for ransom, remains imprisoned. This case serves as a stark indication of the dangers posed by internet-enabled criminal undertakings.

Sources indicate that the detailed account of this case and related hearings are available in public records under case number 24-cr-20380. The legal precedent set and the community’s sense of security are both bolstered by efforts like these, championing a safer future for American citizens.