Man Gets 12-Year Sentence After Kidnapping Rideshare Driver

The case of a Texas man’s plan to kidnap a social media influencer for ransom has ended with a 12-year prison sentence after he forced a rideshare driver on a harrowing 1,300-mile journey.

Key Takeaways

Miguel Alejandro Pastran Hernandez has been sentenced to 12 years for kidnapping and carjacking a rideshare driver.
The victim was forced to drive over 1,300 miles from Texas to Florida at gunpoint.
Hernandez planned to kidnap a social media influencer or their family for $3 million ransom.
He was arrested in Florida with a loaded handgun and other criminal supplies.

Terrifying Interstate Kidnapping Scheme Unraveled

Miguel Alejandro Pastran Hernandez, a 24-year-old Texas man, has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for a brazen kidnapping and carjacking scheme that crossed state lines. The incident began on August 16 in Arlington, Texas, when Hernandez forcibly commandeered a rideshare vehicle, using the driver’s own firearm to threaten and control him during a harrowing 1,300-mile journey to South Florida.

The sentence, handed down by federal authorities, includes 60 months for kidnapping and carjacking charges, followed by a mandatory 84-month term for possessing a firearm during a violent crime. These terms are to be served consecutively, underscoring the severity of Hernandez’s actions.

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

A Ransom Plot Foiled

Hernandez’s ultimate goal was far more sinister than mere interstate travel. Upon reaching Miami Beach, he intended to kidnap a social media influencer or a member of their family, demanding a staggering $3 million ransom. This plan was thwarted when law enforcement intervened as Hernandez attempted to purchase supplies for his intended crime on August 19.

Throughout the ordeal, Hernandez employed a mobile app to evade law enforcement, demonstrating a level of premeditation that likely factored into his sentencing. The victim was forced to maintain the pretense of a work trip, even being instructed to lie to his children about his whereabouts.

Justice Served

Hernandez’s crime spree came to an end in Hollywood, Florida, where authorities apprehended him. At the time of his arrest, he was found in possession of the victim’s loaded handgun, as well as an array of items presumably intended for use in his planned kidnapping, including Airsoft guns, knives, and zip-ties.

The case, investigated by the FBI Miami and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Hannah, falls under the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, a program aimed at reducing gun violence and violent crime in communities across the nation. Hernandez ultimately pleaded guilty to charges of kidnapping and carjacking, facing the full weight of federal law for his actions.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that can lurk behind seemingly routine rideshare experiences and the importance of continued vigilance in personal safety. It also highlights the effectiveness of law enforcement cooperation across state lines in bringing dangerous criminals to justice.