Court gavel. MWC file photo.
NEW YORK CITY, NY (WSAU) – On Friday morning, an illegal immigrant was formally charged with murder and arson for allegedly setting a lady on fire on a New York City F train.
According to the New York Post, Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, was indicted on charges of first- and second-degree murder and one count of arson. The victim is yet to be formally identified, but a vigil was held for her on Thursday at the subway station in Coney Island.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams suggested that prosecutors should “explore criminal charges … under the federal arson statute” against Zapeta-Calil, which would set him to face prosecution in both the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District, which could raise his sentence from 20 years to life in prison without the possibility of parole to a maximum of 40 years.
His formal arraignment will take place at the state Supreme Court on January 7, the day the full indictment is unsealed.
Comments