Miguel Alejandro Pastran Hernandez, Armed Kidnapping, Florida 2023

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Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Kidnapping of Rideshare Driver in Florida

MIAMI – A 24-year-old man has pleaded guilty to kidnapping a rideshare driver at gunpoint and forcing the victim to drive him from Texas to South Florida, authorities announced on December 3.

Miguel Alejandro Pastran Hernandez, 24, was accused of kidnapping the driver, Victim 1, near Arlington, Texas, on August 16. Pastran Hernandez allegedly held a firearm to the victim’s head and ordered him to drive to Florida, using a mobile application on his cellphone to avoid law enforcement.

During the journey, Pastran Hernandez discovered a blue handgun in the vehicle, which he loaded and kept on his person. He also brandished the firearm at Victim 1 to ensure he followed his commands. On August 18, Pastran Hernandez and Victim 1 arrived in Miami Beach, where Pastran Hernandez surveilled the residence of another potential victim, Victim 2.

Pastran Hernandez planned to kidnap Victim 2 or someone in their family for a $3,000,000 ransom. However, on August 19, police officers arrived at a store in Hialeah, Fla., where Pastran Hernandez was attempting to buy supplies for the kidnapping. Pastran Hernandez fled the area on foot, but was later located at a park in Hollywood, Fla., with Victim 1’s blue handgun in his possession.

Law enforcement also discovered multiple Airsoft or BB guns, knives, a black mask, hat, sunglasses, binoculars, walkie-talkies, zip-ties, and other items in Pastran Hernandez’s backpack. Pastran Hernandez is scheduled to be sentenced on February 20, 2025, and faces up to life in prison.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the charges. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that aims to reduce gun violence and other violent crime in communities.

Pastran Hernandez’s guilty plea is a significant blow to his plans, and serves as a reminder of the importance of community-based efforts to prevent violence. As the investigation continues, authorities will work to ensure that Pastran Hernandez is held accountable for his crimes.

The FBI Miami investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Hannah prosecuting the charges.