Driver suing Lyft claims she was kidnapped and assaulted by alleged suspect tied to robbery ring

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A wife and mother of four, working a side job to make ends meet, alleges she was sexually assaulted and held at gunpoint while driving for Lyft. She is now suing the company for failing to protect her.

Authorities report that the suspect is part of a robbery ring that has targeted more than a dozen rideshare drivers in the Houston area.

Blizzard Greenberg attorneys represent the victim, identified as J.W., in the lawsuit against Lyft and the alleged attacker. has kept her identity confidential for her safety.

“I thought I was about to die,” J.W. recounted.

In June 2023, while working as a Lyft driver, J.W. accepted a ride she initially tried to decline.

“There was a message saying I could be penalized if I didn’t take the ride,” she explained. “Feeling pressured, I accepted it.”

The ride from Missouri City to Martin Luther King Blvd near the South Loop was priced at $3.94.

According to the lawsuit, 19-year-old Kenneth Kelley was the passenger. At the time, Kelley was a high school student living with his mother.

As they neared the drop-off location, Kelley allegedly pulled out a gun, held it to J.W.’s head, and demanded she keep driving. He then described the sexual acts he intended to force upon her, all while holding a gun to her head.

“He groped me and said horrible things,” J.W. said. “I prayed and begged for my life.”

The lawsuit claims Kelley and five other young men are linked to 19 robberies of Uber and Lyft drivers, all following a similar pattern of drivers being held at gunpoint and forced to withdraw money. Kelley reportedly forced another victim to perform oral sex at gunpoint.

A federal grand jury in Houston recently indicted Kelley and the five others on 24 counts, including interference with commerce by robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence.

J.W. believes Lyft failed to implement proper safety measures for its drivers.

The lawsuit states Kelley’s first victim was kidnapped in April 2023, and although the crime was reported to Lyft, the company did not inform the police in a timely manner, allowing Kelley to continue using the app.

Additionally, Kelley allegedly used a fake name, and Lyft did not provide a photo ID of the rider. J.W. says this oversight has devastated her life.

“I almost lost my life over $3.95 to someone with a false name and account,” she lamented.

Kelley faces 10 state criminal charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated kidnapping, and sexual assault. He was apprehended by U.S. Marshals.

has reached out to Lyft for a comment on the lawsuit and allegations.