Yordan Diaz Vera, 34, a Lyft driver, was charged with first-degree sodomy, menacing, and kidnapping, according to the Louisville Metro Police Department. Federal authorities have reportedly placed an ICE detainer on Vera, signaling efforts to remove him from the U.S. as an illegal immigrant, though the Department of Homeland Security has not publicly confirmed his status.

The attack occurred on February 4, when the victim, a mother of four, requested a Lyft ride to a chiropractor’s appointment. Police say Vera pulled the car over in a church parking lot, brandished a gun from the glove compartment, and forced the victim into sexual acts while locking the doors. The chiropractor called the police upon the victim’s arrival at his office.

Vera was arrested the next day in a supermarket parking lot. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held on a $100,000 cash bond, in addition to the ICE detainer. The case is expected to go before a grand jury in March.

The victim’s attorney told local media that Vera entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 but had obtained a work permit and was awaiting a hearing for legal status at the time of his arrest. How he met Lyft’s eligibility requirements, including a valid Social Security number and insurance, remains unclear.

Lyft permanently removed Vera from its platform and said in a statement: “The behavior described is reprehensible and has no place in the Lyft community or society. We have permanently removed the driver from the Lyft platform and are assisting law enforcement with their investigation.”

ICE’s detainer means that, in addition to facing criminal charges, Vera could also face immigration proceedings that might result in his deportation, potentially running alongside or following the resolution of his criminal case.