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Lyft driver sues company for $1M after being abducted, sexually assaulted by armed rider with long criminal history

Kenneth Kelley, 19. (Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.)

HOUSTON – A Houston area woman has filed a lawsuit against Lyft after she was held at gunpoint, kidnapped and sexually assaulted by a rider while working for the company, according to the lawsuit.

A federal grand jury in Houston indicted the suspect, Kenneth Kelley, 19, and five others on a combined 24 counts including interference with commerce by robbery and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

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In addition to federal charges, Kelley, was indicted on 10 state criminal charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated kidnapping and sexual assault.

One of the victims, identified as J.W., is being represented by attorneys at Blizzard Greenberg. She is suing Lyft for $1 million after suffering from mental anguish, emotional distress and psychological trauma, according to the lawsuit.

Police said Kelley was connected to a robbery ring responsible for a string of crimes against more than a dozen rideshare drivers.

“My client was terrified of losing her life over a $3.94 ride,” said sexual assault lawyer Anna Greenberg. “Lyft’s safety policies are inadequate and are geared towards protecting passengers, rather than both passengers and drivers. This horrifying incident could have been avoided if only the company would make driver safety a priority too.”

What happened

J.W. said she was working part time as a Lyft driver in June 2023 for extra income. She was reportedly paired with a Kelley, who was using a fake name, and declined the ride request because she said she wanted to end her shift and go home.

On the Lyft app, the lawsuit stated that J.W. was sent a warning that declining rides can result in penalties for drivers, including loss of the ability to drive for the company. That’s when a second request came through from the same passenger and she accepted.

Documents stated J.W. picked up Kelley and when she was approaching the drop-off location, he reportedly pulled out a gun, held it to her head and demanded that she continued driving.

According to the lawsuit, Kelley began describing the sexual things he planned to do to her, including holding a gun to the back of her head while assaulting her.

J.W. reportedly began praying out loud and began talking with the attacker in hopes he would let her live.

After pulling into a dead-end street, the lawsuit stated that Kelley told J.W. to get out of the car and she says he sexually assaulted her. She was able to get back into her car and drive away after promising Kelley she would return to pick him up later, but instead she contacted police.

Kelley, along with his co-conspirators, who are accused of a nearly three-month-long crime spree involving abducting, robbing and assaulting rideshare drivers, was arrested by officers with the Houston Police Department and taken into custody by U.S. Marshals.

Suspect connected to other related crimes

According to the lawsuit, public records show Kelley’s first Lyft victim was kidnapped and robbed in April of 2023. After the driver reported the crimes to Lyft, the lawsuit accuses the company of failing to inform police in a timely matter, which reportedly allowed Kelley to continue to use the app.

The lawsuit alleges the company’s negligence led to the crimes against other rideshare drivers and the attack on J.W.


About the Author
Brittany Taylor headshot

Award-winning journalist, mother, YouTuber, social media guru, millennial, mentor, storyteller, University of Houston alumna and Houston-native.

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