Shreveport taxi service has business license revoked after hiring convicted rapist to drive
The Shreveport City Council voted unanimously to uphold a license revocation against a local taxi cab service that admitted to hiring a convicted rapist.
The company, VIP Taxi Services LLC, spoke before the City Council on Monday in an attempt to appeal the Shreveport Police Department's order that it suspend services immediately.
SPD revoked the company's license after discovering VIP allowed registered sex offender Ontario Samuels to drive, despite his third-degree rape conviction.
"They had a rapist working for them?" asked councilman John Nickelson.
“Did you all have a sex offender working for you?” asked councilman James Green.
“Yes we did, but we found out about that after the fact.” said VIP owner Vernon Moore.
SPD officer Bradley Glass said SPD was contacted by Caddo and Bossier Sheriff's offices about the driver's status as a sex offender. SPD discovered the driver had been working without a license.
Moore said Samuels was driving without a license because the COVID pandemic had backlogged the permit system and Moore received assurance from his insurance company that receipt of payment for a permit application was enough to put a driver on the road.
“Do you realize the risk you put to the community by having a rapist drive a taxi cab?” councilwoman Tabatha Taylor asked.
Glass said the company submitted the application for Samuels and knew he was denied but still let him drive. He added that the company has continued to operate even after the business received a letter of revocation.
Glass said the permit application laws in place were created after the kidnapping and murder of Justin Bloxom.
Moore suggested to the Council that the letter of revocation was invalid because it was improperly addressed to his wife Carol Moore and incorrectly named the company. The letter refers to the company as VIP Taxi Service. Moore asserted that the company is called VIP TAXI SERVICES LLC.
“Are you suggesting the letter was inadequate because it said VIP Taxi Services as opposed to VIP Taxi Services LLC?” Nickelson asked Moore, to which the latter responded yes.
“In my opinion, the vehicle for hire permit for the vehicle and owner of the permit were not mentioned,” Moore said.
Moore said he didn't know Samuels was a registered sex offender.
Moore said VIP Taxi Service is a separate business his wife began in West Monroe in order to take advantage of SBA minority loans.
“It’s easier to get SBA loans as a minority than it is as a male person,” said Moore.
Nickelson suggested criminal charges be pressed against the owners if they don’t stop operating immediately.
Kendrick Dante writes for the USA Today Network and is a government watchdog reporter in Shreveport, Louisiana. He enjoys cooking, concerts, and content. Email him at kdbrown1@gannett.com or connect on Twitter @kendrickdante.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Shreveport taxi service license revoked for hiring convicted rapist
