Phony SF rideshare driver convicted of multiple sexual assaults

SAN FRANCISCO - A 44-year-old man was convicted on Friday of sexually assaulting multiple women over several years while posing as a rideshare driver in San Francisco.

Orlando Vilchez Lazo, 44, was convicted in a trial by jury of 11 felony counts – two counts of kidnapping with intent to commit rape, three counts of kidnapping, four counts of rape by force/fear and two counts of sexual penetration with a foreign object, according to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.

"Justice has finally been served," said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins in a prepared statement. "Mr. Vilchez Lazo is now being held accountable for these heinous crimes. I would like to thank the jury for their service on this trial, the San Francisco Police Department for their thorough investigation and the survivors for their courage and trust in my office to get them justice.

Suspect posed as rideshare driver

Timeline:

According to evidence and testimony presented at the trial, Vilchez Lazo posed as a rideshare driver, picking up young women who were waiting for their ordered rideshare after leaving bars and nightclubs, and taking them to a remote and secluded area to assault them.

The first assault reportedly occurred in 2013 when Vilchez Lazo picked up a 21-year-old college student who left a bar in San Francisco’s Mission District.

"Vilchez Lazo picked her up and took her to an abandoned, industrial area, locked the car door and proceeded to rape her," Jenkins’ office said. "She had no idea where she had been taken. There were no people, vehicles or houses nearby. No suspect was identified at that time."

The SFDA added that "an unknown male DNA profile" was collected, but the case eventually went cold.

Multiple victims

2018 victims:

In February 2018, a second victim left a SOMA club with a friend and ordered a rideshare to take her home. After her ride was canceled, Vilchez Lazo pulled to the curb in a car and told the friend that he could give them a ride home.

Both the victim and her friend assumed Vilchez Lazo was a rideshare driver and entered his car. Less than a block away, Vilchez Lazo pulled over and told the friend to exit the vehicle and get water, according to the SFDA.

"As soon as the friend exited the car, he sped away with Survivor No. 2. He then took her to Mansell Street and violently raped her in an area with no cars or residences," Jenkins’ office said.

As with the first assault, authorities collected a DNA profile and found a match to the 2013 case.

Then in May 2018, a third victim left another SOMA club and ordered a rideshare near Howard and Second streets. 

Vilchez Lazo then reportedly pulled up with a rideshare decal on his vehicle, and the victim entered.

"Vilchez Lazo falsely confirmed he was her rideshare driver," the SFDA’s office said. "He then proceeded to take Survivor No. 3’s cellphone and transported her to Mansell Street where he got into the backseat of the car and violently raped her. She had no idea where she was and screamed for help."

During the assault, Vilchez Lazo reportedly put a "metal object" up to the victim’s neck and told her, "This can be easy or this can be violent."

Authorities again collected a DNA sample in the case, connecting it to the 2013 and the February 2018 assaults.

Last recorded victim:

In June, the fourth and final victim also left a SOMA club and ordered a rideshare near Howard and Second streets, just like the third victim.

Vilchez Lazo pulled up to the victim and identified himself as an Uber driver, and the victim entered his vehicle.

"[Vilchez Lazo] took her phone after it started ringing, then transported Survivor No. 4 to Mansell Street and violently raped her," the SFDA’s office said. "He used a sharp object and threatened Survivor No. 4 by placing the weapon to her neck and ordering her to comply. Survivor No. 4 felt blood on her hands and realized he had cut her in many locations."

The victim managed to escape from the vehicle and banged on the door of a residence on Goettingen Street, who called police.

Authorities were not able to catch Vilchez Lazo, but they collected a fourth DNA sample that connected the assault to the preceding three.

San Francisco police catch up with the suspect

What we know:

In July 2018, San Francisco Police Department undercover officers noticed a vehicle adorned with rideshare stickers matching the description of the suspect vehicle in the assaults circling the area of Howard and Second streets without picking up any fares for over an hour.

Police pulled over the car and arrested Vilchez Lazo.

Vilchez Lazo is currently in custody pending sentencing. He faces more than 100 years to life in state prison.

"These four survivors showed overwhelming courage and strength by coming to testify after all of these years and face the man that committed such horrendous acts," said Assistant District Attorney Michele Brass. "Their bravery and resilience to hold this defendant accountable was incredible. I am so impressed with these four women who have become so successful in their lives despite living with this trauma."

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