DA Alvin Bragg Releases Migrant Taxi Driver Charged for Repeatedly Assaulting Female Passengers

An Algerian taxi driver in New York, Mohammed Bellebia, 34, who allegedly assaulted two female passengers in separate incidents, continues to pick up fares after receiving a lenient plea deal from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, according to reporting by the New York Post. Court records indicate that Bellebia was allowed to plead guilty to lesser charges in at least one of the alleged assaults.

The first reported incident occurred in November of last year when 23-year-old Maile Bartow got into Bellebia’s yellow cab minivan around 2 a.m. after a night out. What should have been a brief ride to her Lower East Side residence reportedly turned into a traumatic ordeal. Bartow alleges that Bellebia, who spoke limited English, began touching her leg and eventually groped her genitals despite her pleas to stop. According to her lawsuit against the driver and the taxi company, ironically named “Tranquil Taxi,” Bartow attempted to take a photo of the alleged assault, but Bellebia reportedly grabbed her phone and deleted the image. She then recorded her pleas in a voicemail.

Bartow described the experience as terrifying, fearing that Bellebia might harm or even kidnap her. He eventually pulled over, forcing her to call a ride service to get home. She reported the incident to New York police the following morning.

About a month later, in December, Bellebia allegedly assaulted a second woman in a similar fashion during a 2 a.m. ride. A law enforcement source told the Post that he touched the 33-year-old passenger’s leg and attempted to remove her underwear. The cab reportedly had no protective partition or camera system.

Bellebia was arrested on December 19, 2024, and charged in both cases. In Bartow’s case, he faced misdemeanor charges of forcible touching and sexual abuse, which could have carried a sentence ranging from probation to one year in jail. Instead, he pleaded guilty in March to disorderly conduct and received a “conditional discharge,” meaning he avoided jail time provided he stays out of further legal trouble. Details of the second case remain sealed.

Bartow, who has since moved out of New York, said she was unaware of the second assault allegation and felt excluded from the legal process. She only learned about Bellebia’s plea deal after repeatedly contacting the DA’s office. Bellebia’s license, which had been suspended after the incidents, was reportedly reinstated in March, and he has returned to driving the same taxi.

Attempts by the Post to reach Bellebia for comment were largely unsuccessful. During an attempted interview, he relied on a friend to translate, who declined to comment. When a reporter asked if he was in the U.S. illegally, he hung up.

A Manhattan DA spokesperson told the Post that the charges in Bartow’s case were not bail-eligible and that Bellebia had no prior convictions. The office also acknowledged shortcomings in communication with the survivor and stated it had reached out to apologize.

Source: BREITBART