A 21-year-old illegal immigrant working as an Uber Eats driver has appeared in court for the first time after being charged with the alleged rape of a woman in her Massachusetts home. Roiber Andres Rodriguez Melendez, a Colombian national, denied the charges and has been denied bail, remaining in custody as the case unfolds.
The alleged assault occurred on February 9 in Springfield, Massachusetts, when Melendez arrived at the victim’s home to deliver food. Prosecutors revealed that Melendez was not legally in the U.S. at the time and had been using a female alias and his mother’s photograph on his Uber Eats account. The victim, expecting a female driver, allowed Melendez into her home due to the cold weather and his inability to speak English.
During the delivery, Melendez allegedly requested a four-digit code to complete the order, prompting the victim to call a Spanish-speaking friend for translation. While on a three-way call with Uber customer support, Melendez reportedly grabbed the victim’s phone, disconnected the call, and forced her into a bathroom, where the assault allegedly took place. The ordeal ended only when the victim’s friend repeatedly called back, causing Melendez to flee the scene.
According to The Daily Mail, Police identified Melendez using footage from the victim’s pet camera and surveillance from the delivery pickup location. The victim’s friend confirmed that Uber had not required a code for the delivery, contradicting Melendez’s earlier claim. The victim was heard crying hysterically in the background of security footage as Melendez left the home.
When arrested, Melendez initially denied entering the victim’s home, claiming he stayed at the doorway. However, after being confronted with interior camera footage, he admitted to stepping inside briefly but denied any physical contact, suggesting the victim was ‘out of it’ after drinking alcohol. Melendez also agreed to provide a DNA sample.
Further investigation revealed that Melendez’s Uber account was linked to a woman named Rosa Maria Saltman. In a separate incident on January 31, Melendez and another man were stopped for obstructing traffic while making a DoorDash delivery. Neither had a valid license, and a woman claiming to be Saltman told police the men were her sons. However, Melendez’s booking information lists his mother as Marisol Melendez.
An Uber spokesperson stated, “What’s been reported is horrifying, and we take these reports very seriously. We’ve been in contact with law enforcement and have banned the account from the platform.”
Melendez pleaded not guilty at his first court hearing and remains in custody as the case continues.
