Inmate Convicted in Violent Kidnapping of Rideshare Driver During Jail Escape

Stevenson Charles faces life sentence for abducting driver while on the run from Georgia jail.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 9:36pm

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A man serving a life sentence for carjacking, kidnapping, and robbery escaped from a Georgia jail in 2025 along with two other inmates. The trio then abducted a rideshare driver in South Florida, holding her hostage, assaulting her, and using her bank cards before authorities captured them.

Why it matters

This case highlights the dangers posed by escaped inmates and the vulnerability of gig economy workers, raising concerns about prison security and the safety of rideshare drivers.

The details

Stevenson Charles, 24, was convicted by a federal jury for kidnapping the rideshare driver, conspiracy to kidnap, Hobbs Act robbery, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Charles and two other inmates, Yusuf Minor and Naod Yohannes, allegedly used a fake name to order a ride, then bound the driver's hands, put a rope around her neck, and forced her into the backseat. They drove the victim to South Florida, used her bank cards, and assaulted her when she tried to escape before authorities found and captured them.

  • On December 22, 2025, Charles, Minor, and Yohannes escaped from the DeKalb County Jail in Georgia.
  • Later that same evening, about 18 hours into the kidnapping, authorities found Charles driving the victim's vehicle along with Yohannes.

The players

Stevenson Charles

A 24-year-old man serving a life sentence for carjacking, kidnapping, and robbing multiple victims who escaped from a Georgia jail and was convicted of kidnapping a rideshare driver.

Yusuf Minor

One of the two other inmates who escaped from the Georgia jail with Charles and was involved in the kidnapping of the rideshare driver.

Naod Yohannes

One of the two other inmates who escaped from the Georgia jail with Charles and was involved in the kidnapping of the rideshare driver.

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What they’re saying

“This defendant's escape from custody triggered a violent chain of events that put an innocent rideshare driver in grave danger. The evidence at trial showed a brutal kidnapping carried out to facilitate his flight from justice. Thanks to the determined work of our federal agents and law enforcement partners, the victim survived and the defendant now stands convicted by a jury of his peers.”

— Jason A. Reding Quiñones, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida

What’s next

Yohannes and Minor are scheduled to stand trial on March 30.

The takeaway

This case highlights the serious risks posed by escaped inmates and the vulnerability of gig economy workers, underscoring the need for stronger prison security measures and greater protections for rideshare drivers.