http://www.timesunion.com/business/technology/article/Mexican-Uber-driver-in-US-illegally-charged-with-12515723.php
Uber driver in US illegally charged with 4 California rapes
Updated 4:53 am, Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Troubling UBER incidents around the world
Troubling UBER incidents around the world
Uber fired more than 20 of its workers after a law firm investigated complaints of sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination and other violations of company policies.
lessUber fired more than 20 of its workers after a law firm investigated complaints of sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination and other violations of company
... moreThe company publicly admitted to underpaying drivers in New York City tens of millions of dollars over the past two years.
The company publicly admitted to underpaying drivers in New York City tens of millions of dollars over the past two years.
Leonid Baker, a Bay Area Uber driver, was arrested on suspicion of sexually battering a female passenger on a ride from Oakland to Moraga.
Leonid Baker, a Bay Area Uber driver, was arrested on suspicion of sexually battering a female passenger on a ride from Oakland to Moraga.
Uber fired Anthony Levandowski, the former Waymo engineer at the center of allegations of stealing Waymo's self-driving car plans.
Uber fired Anthony Levandowski, the former Waymo engineer at the center of allegations of stealing Waymo's self-driving car plans.
Uber reported a $700 million loss in the first three months of 2017.
Uber reported a $700 million loss in the first three months of 2017.
The company's first report on diversity revealed that there is a strong underrepresentation of females and non-Asian minorities.
The company's first report on diversity revealed that there is a strong underrepresentation of females and non-Asian minorities.
Uber was forced to suspend its self-driving car program in Arizona after an accident in Tempe. No one was injured, and law officials stated that Uber was not at fault.
lessUber was forced to suspend its self-driving car program in Arizona after an accident in Tempe. No one was injured, and law officials stated that Uber was not at
... moreThe former Target CMO left the company after just sixth months, citing "beliefs and an approach to leadership" that were inconsistent to his own.
The former Target CMO left the company after just sixth months, citing "beliefs and an approach to leadership" that were inconsistent to his own.
A leaked report reveals that the cars can only drive for an eighth of a mile before needing human intervention.
A leaked report reveals that the cars can only drive for an eighth of a mile before needing human intervention.
The New York Times reported that Uber used a tool called "greyball" to avoid law enforcement officials in cities where Uber was banned. Uber stated that it would no longer use the tool.
The New York Times reported that Uber used a tool called "greyball" to avoid law enforcement officials in cities where Uber was banned. Uber stated that it would no longer use the tool.
Former Google engineer Amit Singhal resigned from his post after sexual harassment allegations from his time at Google followed him to Uber.
Former Google engineer Amit Singhal resigned from his post after sexual harassment allegations from his time at Google followed him to Uber.
Google's self-driving car group (Waymo) sued Uber for allegedly stealing its technology. Waymo believes that Uber stole the group's lidar laser sensor, the instrument that helps map out the car's surroundings.
lessGoogle's self-driving car group (Waymo) sued Uber for allegedly stealing its technology. Waymo believes that Uber stole the group's lidar laser sensor, the instrument that helps map out the
... moreA New York Times article from Feb. 22, 2017 reported that an Uber manager groped a female employee at a company retreat, and that other managers heavily used cocaine during the same retreat.
lessA New York Times article from Feb. 22, 2017 reported that an Uber manager groped a female employee at a company retreat, and that other managers heavily used cocaine
... moreTravis Kalanick was 'ashamed' after dashcam video caught him in a heated expletive-laced argument while getting a ride from an Uber driver on Super Bowl Sunday in February 2017.
Travis Kalanick was 'ashamed' after dashcam video caught him in a heated expletive-laced argument while getting a ride from an Uber driver on Super Bowl Sunday in February 2017.
A former Uber engineer's blog post about sexual harassment at Uber led to the firm hiring former U.S. attorney general Eric Holder to lead the investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and sexism at the company. Read Fowler's blog post here.
lessA former Uber engineer's blog post about sexual harassment at Uber led to the firm hiring former U.S. attorney general Eric Holder to lead the investigation into allegations of sexual
... moreTravis Kalanick's time on Trump's business council quickly triggered a campaign to boycott the ride-hailing company. So Kalanick was compelled by pressure from within and without the firm to resign from the group in early February 2017.
lessTravis Kalanick's time on Trump's business council quickly triggered a campaign to boycott the ride-hailing company. So Kalanick was compelled by pressure from within and without the firm to
... moreChaos ensues when 'People Behaving Badly' catches UberEATS driver parked in the middle of San Francisco's main artery and a cop chases the driver down. Watch the video.
lessChaos ensues when 'People Behaving Badly' catches UberEATS driver parked in the middle of San Francisco's main artery and a cop chases the driver down.
... moreUber hands over $20 million to settle charges that it duped people into driving for it with false promises about how much they would make.
Uber hands over $20 million to settle charges that it duped people into driving for it with false promises about how much they would make.
An Uber driver was shot and killed on the 3700 block of West 109th Street in Inglewood, California on Sunday March 21, 2016. The day before an Uber driver was shot, and later died, in Detroit.
An Uber driver was shot and killed on the 3700 block of West 109th Street in Inglewood, California on Sunday March 21, 2016. The day before an Uber driver was shot, and later died, in Detroit.
Jason West of San Francisco displays a photo taken on March 12, 2016 when West says he was a passenger in an Uber that was involved in a road rage incident in San Francisco that killed a pedestrian.
Jason West of San Francisco displays a photo taken on March 12, 2016 when West says he was a passenger in an Uber that was involved in a road rage incident in San Francisco that killed a pedestrian.
On March 15, 2016, CHP officers shot an Uber driver with a stun gun after he led them on a high-speed chase through at least 5 East Bay cities.
On March 15, 2016, CHP officers shot an Uber driver with a stun gun after he led them on a high-speed chase through at least 5 East Bay cities.
After a Buzzfeed search of Uber's customer service database came up with over 6,100 tickets involving rape or sexual assault, Uber says it's had 'fewer than 170 cases' of sexual assaults between December 2012 and August 2015.
lessAfter a Buzzfeed search of Uber's customer service database came up with over 6,100 tickets involving rape or sexual assault, Uber says it's had 'fewer than 170 cases' of sexual
... moreIn October 2015, Uber driver Edward Cadan was attacked by Taco Bell exec Benjamin Golden, an incident that was recorded on Cadan's dashcam video. Golden lost his job but has since sued Cadan for $5 mil.
lessIn October 2015, Uber driver Edward Cadan was attacked by Taco Bell exec Benjamin Golden, an incident that was recorded on Cadan's dashcam video. Golden lost his job but has since sued
... moreOn October 16, 2015, SFist's Eve Batey detailed a frightening tale of calling an Uber driver who showed up at this SF corner and said "he was going to rape and kill me."
On October 16, 2015, SFist's Eve Batey detailed a frightening tale of calling an Uber driver who showed up at this SF corner and said "he was going to rape and kill me."
In August, 2015, SF DA George Gascon announced that Uber's background check process is so flawed that it has least 22 convicted criminals driving in Los Angeles and San Francisco, including convicted sex offenders, burglars and a murderer.
lessIn August, 2015, SF DA George Gascon announced that Uber's background check process is so flawed that it has least 22 convicted criminals driving in Los Angeles and San Francisco, including
... moreIn August 2015, an Uber driver is arrested after allegedly robbing and molesting a female passenger at knifepoint in the Chinese city of Chengdu.
In August 2015, an Uber driver is arrested after allegedly robbing and molesting a female passenger at knifepoint in the Chinese city of Chengdu.
In January 2015, a gay couple says they were told to get out of an Uber car after kissing during the ride. Uber was quick to suspend the driver but not before the story went viral.
In January 2015, a gay couple says they were told to get out of an Uber car after kissing during the ride. Uber was quick to suspend the driver but not before the story went viral.
In June 2014, an L.A. Uber driver was supposed to take a woman who had been barhopping home but instead took her to this Panorama City motel where she woke up to find the driver next to her on the bed and shirtless.
lessIn June 2014, an L.A. Uber driver was supposed to take a woman who had been barhopping home but instead took her to this Panorama City motel where she woke up to find the driver next to her on
... moreIn December, 2014, Uber driver Syed Muzaffar, 57, hit a family of three in a crosswalk near the Civic Center, killing a 6-year-old girl. Muzaffar was charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.
lessIn December, 2014, Uber driver Syed Muzaffar, 57, hit a family of three in a crosswalk near the Civic Center, killing a 6-year-old girl. Muzaffar was charged with misdemeanor vehicular
... moreIn December 2014, Uber driver Shiv Kumar Yadav was arrested in the sexual assault of a female passenger in his car. A year later he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
In December 2014, Uber driver Shiv Kumar Yadav was arrested in the sexual assault of a female passenger in his car. A year later he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
In November, 2014, top Uber exec Emil Michael suggested hiring an opposition researcher specifically to "spread details of the personal life of a reporter who has criticized the company," according to Buzzfeed.
lessIn November, 2014, top Uber exec Emil Michael suggested hiring an opposition researcher specifically to "spread details of the personal life of a reporter who has criticized the company,"
... moreSF bartender Roberto Chicas, 35, was struck on the head with a hammer by his UberX driver, Patrick Karajah, 26, after the two argued about the route Karajah was taking.
SF bartender Roberto Chicas, 35, was struck on the head with a hammer by his UberX driver, Patrick Karajah, 26, after the two argued about the route Karajah was taking.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Mexican man living in the U.S. illegally used his job as an Uber driver to target intoxicated young women and was charged Monday with raping, assaulting and robbing four victims, California prosecutors said.
Alfonso Alarcon-Nunez drove women to their homes, assaulted them, and stole property including cellphones, computers and jewelry, officials said. He collected his fare payments through the smartphone app Venmo to disguise his identity and his Uber records.
DNA evidence helped lead detectives to Alarcon-Nunez, who was arrested at his Santa Maria home last week, San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow said at a news conference.
The alleged crimes occurred over four weeks starting in mid-December in San Luis Obispo, a city of about 45,000 that is home to California Polytechnic State University. Alarcon-Nunez's victims are between 19 and 22 and three were drunk at the time of the crimes, Dow said.
Alarcon-Nunez, 39, faces 10 criminal charges, including rape of an intoxicated victim and first-degree burglary. He pleaded not guilty to all charges at his arraignment and remained held in the San Luis Obispo County Jail with bail set at $1.47 million. His next court date was set for Jan. 29.
FOX 5's Anjali Hemphill reports.
Media: Fox5DC
Detectives are looking for potential witnesses and trying to determine if there are additional victims in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties northwest of Los Angeles, where the Alarcon-Nunez had been driving for Uber since September, Dow said.
Alarcon-Nunez has also gone by the name "Bruno Diaz" and his Venmo username was "Brush Bat," prosecutors said.
Officials said Alarcon-Nunez was not always driving for Uber when he picked up women. Sometimes, drivers in cars parked outside bars or restaurants "jump in front of the actual Uber driver and they will take someone unsuspecting to their home. And that's a way of putting someone at risk, and in this case that's exactly what's alleged to have happened," Dow said.
He said the alleged crimes show that the company should improve its driver screening process, Dow said. Dow urged Uber users to make sure they are getting in the car of the correct driver by verifying the license plate and other information provided to clients.
"What police have reported is absolutely horrifying, and something no person should ever have to experience. We have been working with law enforcement to provide them with information for their investigation, and the driver has been permanently removed from the app," Uber spokesman Andrew Hasbun said in a statement Monday.
Alarcon-Nunez returned to the U.S. illegally after a voluntary deportation from New Mexico in 2005, officials said. Dow did not have details about why he was deported or whether he has a criminal record in the U.S.
California issues driver's licenses to immigrants in the country illegally and Alarcon-Nunez had a valid license since 2015.
Alarcon-Nunez's immigration status will not have a bearing on the prosecution, Dow said. He could face life in prison if convicted on all charges.
___
Follow Weber at https://twitter.com/WeberCM .
