Illegal Immigrant Rideshare Driver Charged with Rape in Maryland Had Prior NYC Sex Abuse Arrest
An illegal immigrant who worked as a rideshare driver has been charged with raping a teenage passenger in Maryland, according to federal authorities. The suspect, identified as Abdoulaye Dia of Lanham, Maryland, also has a prior arrest for sexual abuse in New York City.
Charges Filed in Montgomery County
Dia faces charges of first-degree rape, kidnapping, second-degree assault, and third-degree sex offense, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said. The charges stem from an incident reported on Tuesday, when Montgomery County Police officers were called to a hospital after an underage teen girl said she had been raped by an Empower rideshare driver.
According to authorities, Dia, a citizen of Guinea, drove the girl to a parking lot in Silver Spring, where the alleged assault took place. Investigators identified him through information obtained from the rideshare app, and he was arrested on Wednesday.
Empower Responds to Allegations
Empower, the rideshare company, told Fox News Digital that all its drivers undergo background checks, sex offender checks, motor vehicle record checks, and Social Security traces. The company also said drivers are vetted against the same global watchlist used by Uber and Lyft through the same screening provider.
Regarding Dia, Empower said the background check, sex offender check, driving record check, Social Security trace, and global watchlist search were conducted on July 16, 2026, and did not reveal any incidents. The company added that the Montgomery County Police Department contacted Empower about the incident, and Empower immediately provided all requested information to assist the investigation.
Prior Arrest and Immigration History
A DHS spokesperson told Fox News that Dia was previously arrested on June 10 in New York City for sexual abuse by forcible compulsion, forcible touching of the sexual or intimate parts of another person, injuring a child less than 17, and sexual abuse without consent.
DHS also said Dia entered the United States illegally through Arizona in December 2023 and was released by the Biden administration.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Empower for further comment.
