NEW YORK — Hiram Carrero was sentenced to five and a half years in prison on Tuesday by Judge Lewis J. Liman in Manhattan federal court. Carrero pleaded guilty in March to a charge of arson, admitting that he intentionally ignited a piece of paper that harmed a man on a New York City subway.

The incident occurred on the morning of December 1, 2025, involving a homeless man who was sleeping at the time. The victim sustained critical injuries, permanent extensive scarring, and disfigurement. Emergency personnel reached the victim after a trip from Penn Station at 34th Street to Times Square.

Prosecutors requested a sentence of up to eight years in prison, stating in court papers that Carrero tried to kill a sleeping homeless man by burning him alive and leaving him trapped on a moving subway car. Carrero was 18 years old at the time of the incident and 19 years old at the time of sentencing.

Defense lawyer Jennifer Brown requested a sentence of 60 months, the mandatory minimum for arson. Brown argued in court papers that Carrero did not use an accelerant, did not wait to confirm the fire took hold, and did not flee the station. Brown also stated that Carrero was born prematurely with drugs in his system and was abandoned at the hospital by his biological parents. She added Carrero faced challenges attending school when the pandemic struck in 2020.

"Words are inadequate to express the profound shame and remorse that Hiram feels," Brown said. Carrero also provided a statement. "If I could talk to the person I hurt directly, to the victim of my crime, I would say, I strongly apologize for my actions," Carrero said.