Man who kidnapped Lyft driver sentenced to 12 years in prison

A man who kidnapped a Lyft driver in Texas and forced her to drive to South Florida has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.

Miguel Pastran Hernandez, 24, was arrested in August in Hollywood after the rideshare driver he kidnapped days earlier managed to escape from him. He pleaded guilty in December.

On Aug. 16, Pastran Hernandez forced the woman to start driving from the Arlington, Texas, area, to Florida, and armed himself with the woman’s own gun during the trip, according to federal court records.

Pastran Hernandez and the woman arrived in Miami Beach two days later. He “surveilled” a social media influencer there and told the woman he planned to also kidnap that person, or a relative of the influencer, and demand a $3 million ransom, according to the factual proffer in his case, the facts agreed on by the prosecution and defense.

The Lyft driver and Pastran Hernandez were at a dollar store in western Miami-Dade County the next day to buy supplies when police officers arrived. The woman was in the bathroom, and Pastran Hernandez ran, the factual proffer said. Officers found him a few hours later at a park in Hollywood.

Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga sentenced him to five years on the charges of kidnapping and carjacking and the mandatory seven years for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He faced up to life in prison.