Felix Rojas, a Mexican national living in the United States illegally, was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison for sexually assaulting and robbing a dead man aboard a Manhattan subway train last year.
Background
The disturbing case dates back to April 2025, when Jorge Gonzalez, 37, boarded an R train near the Whitehall Street station in Manhattan. Gonzalez lost consciousness on a bench inside the subway car and died nearly three hours before Rojas encountered his body. Prosecutors said Rojas measured Gonzalez's pulse, then proceeded to sexually assault him for more than 30 minutes while "repeatedly thrusting his hips back and forth." After the attack, Rojas pulled up Gonzalez's pants, rifled through his pockets, and sat back on the subway bench as the train continued making station stops — apparently attempting to avoid detection.
Rojas, who turned himself in three weeks after the gruesome attack accompanied by his son, initially denied involvement even after seeing surveillance images of the incident. "He did not do that," he told authorities, according to prosecutors.
An ICE spokesperson confirmed Rojas is an illegal immigrant who attempted to unlawfully cross the Southern border on several occasions.
The Investigation
Manhattan prosecutors charged Rojas with sexual assault and robbery in connection with the attack on Gonzalez's body. He accepted a plea deal that includes five years of incarceration followed by 15 years of supervised release. Rojas sat speechless during Wednesday's sentencing, according to court reports.
Gonzalez had lived in the United States for nearly 20 years, working various jobs including construction, kitchen work, waiting tables, and busboy positions to support his family in Mexico.
"He wasn't just a random person, he was a father, he was a family man, he cared about his family in Mexico," said Gonzalez's wife, Teresa, 38. "He did construction, he worked in kitchens, he worked as a waiter, he was a busboy. You know, anything you really could do to try to get ahead."
Key Takeaways
- Felix Rojas, 44, sentenced to 5 years in prison plus 15 years supervised release after pleading guilty
- Victim Jorge Gonzalez, 37, died on an R train bench before being sexually assaulted by Rojas in April 2025
- The assault lasted more than 30 minutes as the train made multiple station stops
- Rojas is a Mexican national living illegally in the U.S.; ICE confirmed he attempted border crossings "on several occasions"
- Gonzalez came to the U.S. nearly 20 years ago, supporting his family through construction and service work
What's Next
Rojas will serve his five-year sentence before beginning his 15-year supervised release period. Immigration authorities have not indicated whether deportation proceedings will follow his incarceration.
Gonzalez's family continues to mourn the loss of a husband and father they describe as dedicated to providing for loved ones in Mexico.