A 19-year-old man who seriously injured a homeless man by setting him on fire aboard a New York City subway train has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison.

The sentence was handed down by a federal court in Manhattan, where Judge Lewis J. Liman imposed a prison term above the mandatory minimum after defendant Hiram Carrero pleaded guilty to arson in March.

According to prosecutors, the incident occurred in the early hours of December 1, 2025. Carrero intentionally ignited a piece of paper near a homeless man who was sleeping inside a subway car, causing flames to spread rapidly and inflict severe injuries on the victim.

Court documents stated that the victim suffered permanent burns, extensive scarring, and physical disfigurement as a result of the attack. Prosecutors argued that the victim survived only because of the swift intervention of emergency responders.

Federal prosecutors had sought a prison sentence of up to eight years, describing the attack as an act that could easily have resulted in the victim's death.

During the sentencing hearing, defense attorney Jennifer Brown cited Carrero's difficult upbringing, noting that he was born prematurely, had been exposed to drugs before birth, and was abandoned by his biological family at the hospital.

The defense also pointed to Carrero's developmental challenges and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on his education and personal development.

Brown told the court that her client deeply regretted his actions, saying that words could not fully express the shame and remorse he felt over the incident. (ILKHA)