Assailant Sentenced to 2-4 Years for Punching Subway Conductor

Pres. Chiarello, at left, with RTO VP Tramell Thompson and MTA PD Capt. John Russo, who came to the sentencing to lend support.
Pres. Chiarello, at left, with RTO VP Tramell Thompson and MTA PD Capt. John Russo, who came to the sentencing to lend support.

FEBRUARY 25—A man who pleaded guilty to assaulting a Subway Conductor in May 2025 was sentenced today in New York Supreme Criminal Court to 2-4 years in prison.

Leonard Johnson, 43, who punched an MTA Conductor in the face at Grand Central on the 5 line, was led into the courtroom in handcuffs, having been remanded to Rikers Island since a few days after the violent incident.

In the audience were union members and officers including President John  Chiarello, RTO VP Tramell Thompson and Deputy Chief of Staff Eric Loegel.

Johnson declined to say anything prior to sentencing. Before the court date, he had filed a motion to dismiss the case on the grounds that a speedy trial wasn’t granted – a motion thrown out by his attorney, who said that he suffers from mental illness.

Union leaders spoke to press at the conclusion of the sentencing.

“We find ourselves in court with a person who has serious mental issues,” President Chiarello said, “but punching one of our members is never going to be right.”

Chiarello said he felt the sentence that was imposed was too lenient, since Johnson is a recidivist criminal who would likely be back on the street relatively soon. The President added, however, that the sentence was an advance over previous similar cases where the defendant ended up with probation only.

In answer to a reporter’s question, Chiarello said the assaulted Conductor was “not working, recuperating,” and added that the physical assault was compounded by psychological trauma.

“If you were a Conductor, and you’re sticking your head out the window, because that’s your job, and at any given time someone could punch you in the face, how would you feel?” he said. “Why would anybody want to take the job?”

RTO Vice President Tramell Thompson, standing next to Chiarello outside of the courtroom, said the Conductor is afraid to get back on a train. “One of the things we would like to see is more deterrence,” Thompson said. “We would like to see stronger laws on the books.”