In a decisive move to safeguard passengers, the Southern District of Texas has unveiled Operation Lighthouse, targeting the sexual assault of rideshare users. On the front line of this initiative are four indictments against local rideshare drivers, as announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Charged with the heinous crime of kidnapping for sexual gratification, the men apprehended are ensnared in what appears to be a disturbing pattern of predation under the guise of safe transit.
Two of the accused, Cesar Martell of Humble and Janaka Manatunga from Conroe, are preparing for their initial court appearance, having allegedly used their roles as drivers to hijack the journeys of female passengers. Detained earlier, Barney Steven Flores of Tomball currently remains in federal custody while authorities continue the search for the fourth suspect, Abdou Mbacke, previously of The Woodlands, who remains at large. According to an announcement by the U.S. Attorney's Office, each faces the possibility of a life sentence in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted.
These legal ramifications stem from a series of indictments returned on December 16, 2025, implicating Martell, Manatunga, Flores, and Mbacke in the exploitation of their passengers for sexual purposes. "Cesar Martell, Barney Steve Flores, Janaka Manatunga, and Abdou Mbacke allegedly disguised themselves as trusted rideshare drivers to commit some of the most traumatic and violent crimes against female passengers," Douglas Williams, the FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge, asserted in a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office release. Court records exposed that all four men had been employed by a rideshare company, which terminated their accounts following the victims' reports.
Martell, in particular, stands accused of perpetrating two separate sexual assaults during his tenure as a driver; during these assaults, he is alleged to have strangled his victims, intensifying the brutality of the charges against him. As the initiative continues to shine a beam on these dark exploits, the FBI encourages any additional victims or individuals with information to come forward. For those affected, the FBI can be reached at 1-800-CALL-FBI, providing a beacon of hope and action against these atrocities.
