Convicted gun felon awaiting sentencing earned spot at Rikers World Cup watch party with Mamdani

A Rikers Island inmate convicted by a assemblage connected felony weapon charges was among those rewarded with a FIFA World Cup ticker enactment attended by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, tribunal records reviewed by Fox News Digital show.

Thomas McCoy, 52, of Brooklyn, was among the inmates interviewed during Wednesday's England-Argentina semifinal ticker party, telling The Associated Press helium had been incarcerated for 21 months and that it was the archetypal clip successful a agelong portion helium had enjoyed "real food."

Queens County tribunal records reviewed by Fox News Digital amusement McCoy was recovered blameworthy successful May of 2 counts of second-degree transgression possession of a loaded firearm, arsenic good arsenic misdemeanor counts of transgression usage of cause paraphernalia and transgression possession of a controlled substance.

MAMDANI SPARKS FIERCE BACKLASH FOR WORLD CUP STUNT 'PALLING AROUND' WITH RIKERS ISLAND CONVICTS

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaking with inmates connected Rikers Island portion they ticker a World Cup semifinal shot lucifer connected Wednesday, July 15, 2026, successful New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

He was remanded without bail pursuing the verdict and is scheduled to beryllium sentenced July 22.

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The World Cup ticker enactment was 1 of astir 90 held astatine Rikers during the tournament. According to the mayor's office, astir 4,500 of the jail's astir 6,600 inmates participated arsenic a reward for bully behavior.

More than 100 inmates attended Wednesday's England-Argentina semifinal viewing, wherever Mamdani greeted inmates and spoke with attendees.

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Rikers Island inmates ticker the World Cup semifinal shot lucifer betwixt England and Argentina, astatine the jailhouse analyzable successful New York, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo / Seth Wenig)

Video showed Mamdani greeting inmates and speaking with attendees during the ticker party.

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During the visit, the politician said those incarcerated stay "New Yorkers" and emphasized the value of recognizing their humanity.

Another inmate interviewed by The Associated Press, Ralph Veal, is awaiting proceedings successful Manhattan aft pleading not blameworthy to aggregate felony counts of third-degree expansive larceny and transgression possession of stolen property.

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Rikers Island inmate Victor Caldas, an Argentina fan, reacts during the World Cup semifinal shot lucifer betwixt England and Argentina, astatine the jailhouse analyzable successful New York, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photos / Seth Wenig)

In a quality merchandise recapping the city's World Cup initiatives, the Mayor's Office highlighted the Rikers ticker parties alongside escaped instrumentality festivals, discounted tickets, vicinity ticker parties and different tourney programming for New Yorkers.

"These are New Yorkers, and they volition beryllium New Yorkers erstwhile they get retired of Rikers," the politician said. Correction Commissioner Stanley Richards defended the programming, saying, "Programs similar this adjacent information successful our jail."

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Earlier this year, Mamdani appointed erstwhile Rikers inmate Stanley Richards arsenic correction commissioner aft pledging to overhaul the city's troubled jailhouse system.

The assignment came arsenic Rikers remained nether national oversight aft a justice appointed an autarkic remediation manager to oversee reforms amid years of violence, staffing shortages and findings that metropolis officials had failed to close unconstitutional conditions wrong the jail.

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Fox News Digital has submitted nationalist records requests seeking the identities of inmates selected for the World Cup ticker parties, the criteria utilized to find eligibility and whether inmates charged with oregon convicted of convulsive felonies participated.

Fox News Digital besides asked the Mayor's Office whether Mamdani was briefed connected the transgression histories of the inmates who attended earlier his visit.