New York Post Investigation Reveals Over 5,000 Busts for 63 Career Criminals, Only Five Jailed

New York City, NY – A recent investigation by the New York Post has brought to light that a group of 63 repeat offenders in the city's transit system have accumulated more than 5,000 arrests collectively, yet only five of these individuals are currently incarcerated. This stark disparity was highlighted in a tweet by Rafael A. Mangual, a Nick Ohnell Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, who emphasized the Post's unique reporting on such issues.

The New York Post article, titled "Meet the worst transit terrors on loose in NYC" and published on September 7, 2025, details how these individuals continue to commit crimes ranging from assault and robbery to theft and turnstile-jumping. Law enforcement sources cited in the report attribute this situation to New York State's 2019 criminal justice reforms, which restrict judges' ability to set bail for most non-violent offenses.

According to the Post, this legislative framework often leads to repeat offenders being released while their cases are pending, with many subsequently committing new crimes. The report names several individuals, including Michael Wilson, a 39-year-old with 198 total arrests, and Kenney Mitchell, 28, with 149 arrests, as examples of those frequently apprehended but rarely detained. Of the six chronic offenders specifically detailed in the article, only one, Matthew Leon, is currently behind bars for a sex-related charge.

The situation has also seen a significant decline in conviction rates for transit felony arrests, dropping from 81% a decade ago to between 36% and 38% today. A frustrated law-enforcement source told the Post, "Crime is down in the subways, but it’s the same handful of criminals making it feel like chaos. This kid gloves approach to bail and lack of prosecution isn’t cutting it."

Rafael A. Mangual, a recognized expert in criminal justice and public safety, has consistently critiqued such reforms. His work at the Manhattan Institute and his book "Criminal (In)Justice" focus on the implications of decarceration and depolicing policies, aligning with the New York Post's critical stance on the current state of criminal justice in New York.