Uber Driver Charged With Kidnapping Sleeping Female Passenger, Accused Of Groping Also

The Justice Department announced Tuesday that an Uber driver was charged for kidnapping a passenger and assaulting her before dumping her on the side of a road in New York in February. He was charged with kidnapping and wire fraud in a U.S. District Court.

According to the complaint unsealed Tuesday, Harbir Parmar, 24, was working for Uber on Feb. 21, 2018, when he picked up a female customer in Manhattan. She had booked a ride to White Plains, roughly 30 miles north of the city.

She entered the vehicle around 11.30 p.m. EDT and fell asleep. During this time, Parmar changed the destination to Boston in the company’s mobile application. When she woke up, she noticed the vehicle was on the side of the road and the driver was in the backseat with her. His hand was allegedly “under her shirt touching the top of her breast.”

She then asked him to take her to White Plains or to the police station, but he refused. He instead dropped her off on the side of I-95 in Branford, Connecticut. The victim went to a nearby convenience store and sought assistance.

“As alleged, Harbir Parmar was hired to transport a woman from Manhattan to her home in White Plains. Instead, Parmar kidnapped, terrorized, and assaulted the woman before dumping her on the side of an interstate. No one — man or woman — should fear such an attack when they simply hire a car service,” attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said.

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said, “The victim in this case utilized a ride sharing service trusting that her driver would provide a safe ride home. Instead, as we allege today, Harbir Parmar made an outrageous choice, deciding to unlawfully take advantage of his passenger at a moment of vulnerability for his own selfish motives. This kind of behavior should never be tolerated, and the FBI will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to bring justice to those who would shamelessly and illegally take advantage of others.”

Additionally, the driver allegedly reported "false information" regarding customers' destinations at least 11 times between December 2016 and February 2018. He also falsely claimed customers had vomited in his car on at least three occasions, resulting "in over $3,600 in improper charges" to Uber customers.

Uber told Fox News that the driver’s access to the app was "immediately" revoked and the company is cooperating with law enforcement. The company added the incident was "something no person should go through." The customer was charged more than $1,000 for the ride but the company said she was refunded in full "within days."

Parmar was charged with one count of kidnapping, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, and one count of wire fraud, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

FBI has asked people with similar encounters to contact Westchester Resident Agency at (914) 925-3888.