NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK – A 19-year-old high school student who pled guilty to a near-fatal arson attack carried out in December 2025 which targeted a sleeping man on a New York City subway was sentenced earlier in June, with the judge handing down a sentence of just over five years behind bars.
On June 23rd, the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of New York announced the sentencing of 19-year-old Hiram Carrero, the individual who pled guilty this past March to a December 1st, 2025, arson attack of a sleeping victim while riding on a New York City subway.
Authorities say that on the day of the incident, Carrero boarded the subway car at 34th Street – Penn Station, picking up a piece of discarded paper while riding the railcar and making his way over to a man sleeping. Surveillance video reportedly captured Carrero setting fire to the victim, with the flames engulfing the victim’s legs and spreading out to “a portion of the train car” before the victim exited at 42nd Street where aid was rendered by first responders.
Although the victim survived the arson attack, authorities confirmed he suffered “life-threatening injuries” and was initially listed in critical condition upon arrival at an area hospital.
Despite nearly taking a man’s life unprovoked, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman sentenced Carrero to five-and-a-half years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Carrero was also ordered to pay restitution by the judge.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton issued a statement following Carrero’s sentencing, giving accolades to the quick response from first responders who helped save the victim’s life following the attack while also calling the defendant’s actions “unconscionable.”
“Setting fire to another person is a breathtaking, horrific, and unconscionable crime. Thanks to first responders and the women and men of the NYPD and the FDNY, the victim’s life was saved, and a horrific tragedy was averted,” Clayton stated.
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