Lyft has moved swiftly to distance itself from Dimario Wynter, emphasizing that the driver has been 'permanently removed from the platform.' The company is framing this as an isolated incident by a bad actor who slipped through the cracks, while positioning themselves as cooperative partners with law enforcement.
Parents and students in the Princeton area are understandably shaken. Questions are already circulating about Wynter's employment history—how long was he driving for Lyft? Did any other riders have concerning experiences? The fact that both incidents happened in consecutive days suggests this wasn't his first attempt, which has people wondering if there are more victims out there who haven't come forward yet.
Wynter was arrested on Thursday, April 30 by the Princeton Police Department and charged with two counts of third-degree luring and two counts of harassment. Both incidents involved him offering $100 bills to young women—one victim was approached around noon on April 16 in a black Jeep Patriot, another around 9:30 a.m. the following day in what was described as a dark-colored van or SUV.
This case exposes how easily predatory individuals can exploit rideshare platforms as hunting grounds—and raises serious questions about background check standards that neither Lyft's PR spin nor swift account termination will quiet.
A New Jersey Lyft driver is facing criminal charges after allegedly targeting young women with a calculated scheme that combined cash offers, requests for directions, and outright sexual demands. Dimario Wynter was arrested on Thursday, April 30 by the Princeton Police Department following two separate incidents that occurred just one day apart in mid-April, according to a news release from Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta Marbrey. The first alleged incident took place around noon on Wednesday, April 16.
A Princeton area student reported that Wynter was driving a black Jeep Patriot when he stopped to ask her for directions. In a move that should have raised immediate red flags, he then handed her a $100 bill before getting out of his vehicle and demanding that she perform a sexual act. The student dropped the money and fled—thankfully escaping what could have been a far more dangerous situation.
The following morning, April 17 around 9:30 a.m., another female student encountered nearly the exact same scenario. A man in a dark-colored van or SUV stopped to ask her for directions, handed her $100, and asked her to leave with him. This victim also refused and returned the cash before leaving the area and reporting the incident to authorities.
The pattern is chilling in its predictability: approach young women with a seemingly innocent request, flash money to lower their guard, then escalate to sexual demands when they least expect it. A Princeton University detective launched an investigation after receiving both reports and quickly identified Wynter as the person behind both incidents—and confirmed he was employed by Lyft at the time. Following his arrest, Wynter was released from jail pending future court appearances.
He now faces two counts of third-degree luring and two counts of harassment. It's unclear whether he's entered a plea or retained legal counsel, and the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Lyft has since issued a statement through a spokesperson: "We take reports like this extremely seriously, and the driver has been permanently removed from the platform.
We stand ready to assist law enforcement with their investigation." While the company's swift action is notable, it raises troubling questions about how long Wynter had access to vulnerable passengers—and whether any other riders experienced concerning behavior that went unreported. Police are asking anyone with additional information to contact the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office or submit tips anonymously through their website.
