UMVA has learned that a convicted illegal immigrant who committed a heinous act on a New York City subway train has been sentenced to five years in prison.
The disturbing case involved Felix Rojas, a 44-year-old Mexican national, who sexually violated the corpse of a 37-year-old man, Jorge Gonzalez, on a train in April 2025. Rojas' actions shocked New Yorkers and much of the country when details emerged last year.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Rojas sat silently during the sentencing hearing and made no comments as a Manhattan judge handed down the five-year prison sentence. The judge also ordered 15 years of supervised release after Rojas leaves prison.
The facts of the case are difficult to read. Prosecutors said Gonzalez boarded the train and later lost consciousness, dying on a subway bench nearly three hours before Rojas arrived. Instead of calling for help, Rojas began touching and searching Gonzalez's body, eventually pulling down his pants and raping his corpse.
Court records reveal that Rojas periodically stopped his deviant activities whenever the train approached stations or when other passengers entered the car. He would sit down and pretend nothing was happening, allowing him to continue his assault undisturbed.
Rojas' actions were marked by a calculated attempt to avoid detection. He searched Gonzalez's pockets and belongings throughout the assault, and at one point, moved his victim onto the floor. A subway employee later found Gonzalez dead and called for help.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that Rojas is a Mexican national who entered the United States illegally multiple times, dating back to 1998. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged an immigration detainer against him, and officials will likely try to deport him after his prison sentence.
However, because New York City is a sanctuary city, officials may try to protect Rojas from deportation. Rojas surrendered to police about three weeks after seeing surveillance images released to the local media.
