New York court sentences man to jail for sexually abusing unconscious subway passenger

A New York court sentenced a 44‑year‑old man to five years in prison after he admitted to sexually abusing the body of a deceased passenger on a Manhattan subway train.

The defendant, Felix Rojas, received his sentence on Wednesday following a guilty plea related to an April 2025 incident involving Jorge Gonzalez, a 37‑year‑old man who reportedly died after becoming unconscious on an R train.

Prosecutors said surveillance footage showed Rojas approaching Gonzalez after noticing that he was unresponsive.

The footage also captured the defendant searching through the victim’s pockets during the incident.

Authorities reported that Rojas, a Brooklyn resident, later turned himself in after recognizing his image in surveillance photographs released to the public as part of the investigation.

Although he initially denied involvement when questioned, prosecutors secured a guilty plea that led to his conviction.

In addition to the five‑year prison term, the court ordered that Rojas be placed under supervised release for 15 years after he completes his jail sentence.

Officials also disclosed that Rojas is a Mexican national who had allegedly attempted to enter the United States illegally on several occasions before the incident.

The victim, Gonzalez, had lived in the United States for nearly 20 years and was known by family members as a hardworking father who took on various jobs in construction, hospitality and other service sectors to support relatives in Mexico.

Family members of Gonzalez described him as a dedicated provider whose life was devoted to caring for loved ones.