- Hiram Carrero has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for setting a homeless man on fire in a New York subway incident.
- Carrero pleaded guilty in March, and Judge Lewis J. Liman imposed a sentence that is six months longer than the mandatory minimum for arson.
- Prosecutors described Carrero's actions as heinous, stating that they left the homeless man extensively scarred and disfigured.
- Security footage showed Carrero setting the fire and then leaving the subway car.
- Prosecutors argued that Carrero attempted to kill a sleeping homeless man by burning him alive.
- Carrero's defense attorney highlighted that he was born with neurodevelopmental impairment due to his mother's drug use during pregnancy.
- Carrero himself described his crime as senseless and inexplicable.
Hiram Carrero, a 19-year-old high school senior, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for setting a homeless man on fire in a New York subway incident on December 1, 2025. Judge Lewis J. Liman described Carrero's actions as "heinous", emphasizing the severity of the victim's injuries.123
Carrero pleaded guilty in March, receiving a sentence that is six months longer than the mandatory minimum for arson, but shorter than the eight-year maximum sought by federal prosecutors. The court heard that Carrero's actions left the victim extensively scarred and disfigured, and he likely would have died without immediate medical assistance.
Prosecutors highlighted the gravity of the crime, stating, "Carrero attempted to kill a sleeping, homeless man by burning him alive and leaving him trapped on a moving subway car", adding that the crime was "separated from murder by mere chance".5
Defense attorney Jennifer Brown argued for leniency, citing Carrero's neurodevelopmental impairment due to his mother's drug use during pregnancy. Carrero himself described his actions as "senseless" and "inexplicable".67
“Hiram Carrero, a high school senior, has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for setting a homeless man on fire in a subway car. The judge's sentence was six months longer than the mandatory minimum for arson, reflecting the severity of Carrero's actions.”
Fox News