Lawsuit: Uber Delivered South Carolina Preteen Victim to Rapist in North Carolina
A recent lawsuit alleges that a ride-hailing giant, Uber, unwittingly facilitated the rape of a 12-year-old girl from York County, South Carolina, by an 18-year-old man from North Carolina. According to the suit, the man had groomed the minor and her friend over time via social media, before using Uber to transport them across the state border to his residence.
Uber’s Response
Uber has refuted these allegations saying that as a company, they are committed to combating human trafficking and have invested in significant preventative measures over the years. They further revealed that every driver is provided with resources to identify and report suspected cases of human trafficking.
Incident Recap
The report details that the man, identified as Fayvion Jarrod Williams, then 18, connected with the 12-year-old victim on Facebook. After weeks of communication, which has been characterized as grooming by the girl’s attorneys, Williams arranged an Uber transport for her and her 13-year-old friend to his home in Gaston County, North Carolina on November 25th. The complaint alleges that Williams had instructed the girls to order an Uber from a nearby park to avoid suspicion, and to maintain that he is their father should anyone ask.
Upon arrival in North Carolina, the girls reportedly smoked marijuana with Williams, who subsequently coerced the minor into sexual activity. The case alleges that the 12-year-old girl felt too scared to refuse his advances. Williams filmed the assault and later shared the video with both girls, which was then relayed to their parents and law enforcement. Williams, 19, pleaded guilty in July to statutory rape and second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. He got a prison sentence of six to eight years and will be eligible for release after serving five years.
Lawyers’ Argument Against Uber’s Policies
Lawyers strongly believe Uber drivers could have intervened in different ways to prevent this tragedy. The driver could have questioned the two underage girls about their destination or with whom they were going to meet. They also argue that the driver could have questioned them once he heard them noting their young ages during the drive or upon noticing the one-hour-long travel time. However, none of these interventions were made as, according to the girl’s attorney, Tracey Cowan, Uber “prioritized profits over safety”.
The lawsuit alleges Uber incentivizes drivers to ignore potential trafficking situations because of the company’s policy to withhold the fare for drivers who cancel a pickup, regardless of the distance traveled or time spent to get to the pick-up site. The lawsuit suggests that the company needs to eliminate these incentives and ensure that their policy against unaccompanied minors is strictly adhered to in order to effectively combat trafficking.
Further allegations against Uber’s practices
Further accusations include ineffective training for Uber drivers on human trafficking. According to the legal filing, the company’s main educational resource on human trafficking is an optional 19-minute video released in 2021, which offers no specific guidelines or instructions for drivers who suspect their passengers may be victims of trafficking.
Uber’s current policy prevents unaccompanied riders under 18 from using their platform. However, the Uber Teens service, available in select cities with parental consent, seems to contradict their main policy. Cowan insists that Uber needs to prioritize safety over profits and urges the company to implement adjustments that will ensure the safety of its users.
If you have any information regarding a potential human trafficking situation, please contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888, text 233733, or visit humantraffickinghotline.org/chat. If someone is in immediate danger, dial 911.
