MINNEAPOLIS — When the U.S. Attorney's Office began prosecuting the adult carjacking cases in Minneapolis, they charged four of the most prolific suspects who targeted Uber and Lyft drivers. All four have pleaded guilty, and this week, they're learning their prison sentences.
In October 2021 at the height of the carjacking spike in Minneapolis, KARE 11 News interviewed rideshare driver Fahmi Aden. He shared the terror he experienced when he expected to pick up a paying customer, but attacked instead.
"He opened the car and then, like, pulled the gun out and his friend came after him and he had a gun, too. I begged them to, like, don't shoot me please," Aden said. "They forced me to change my password and then they took off with my wallet. He like, punched the gun on my face, 'Don't talk don't talk.'"
Minneapolis police said they'd counted at least 50 attacks on Uber and Lyft drivers, who were increasingly afraid to do their jobs.
"I met with a number of the victims early on and I heard that message from them. And that drove our focus even more," said U.S. Attorney Andy Luger.
Luger's office charged four of the most prolific suspects targeting rideshare drivers: Shevirio Childs-Young, William Saffold, Eric Knight, and Javeyon Tate.
Prosecutors say every person they victimized was an immigrant from Somalia or a nearby country.
"Just to be able to do your job and make money for your family and make a living, having someone harass and threaten you, was just something that was unacceptable and we had to put an end to it," Luger said.
On Monday, Childs-Young was sentenced to eight years in prison. On Tuesday, Tate received six-and-a-half.
Luger believes his office's prosecution has played a role in the decline of carjackings — and in rideshare drivers feeling safe.
"The word on the street is the numbers are going down because people see the consequences," Luger said.
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