Overview
- Prosecutors named Cesar Martell, Janaka Manatunga, Barney Flores, and Abdou Mbacke, with Martell and Manatunga expected in federal court Thursday, Flores in custody, and Mbacke at large as a fugitive.
- The men face federal kidnapping charges tied to alleged sexual assaults of female passengers, and the counts carry potential life sentences if convicted.
- Authorities say the suspects posed as trusted rideshare drivers and either diverted riders to other locations or prevented them from leaving vehicles.
- The cases are being brought under Operation Lighthouse, a collaboration among the DOJ, FBI, Houston Police Department, and the Harris and Montgomery County sheriff’s offices.
- Investigators cited specific allegations, including two assaults with strangulation attributed to Martell and separate 2023–2025 incidents involving the other defendants, and urged additional victims to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.