Rikers Island FIFA World Cup watch party included convicted felon

A Rikers Island inmate convicted by a jury on felony gun charges was among those rewarded with a FIFA World Cup watch party attended by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, court records reviewed by Fox News Digital show.

Thomas McCoy, 52, of Brooklyn, was among the inmates interviewed during Wednesday’s England-Argentina semifinal watch party, telling The Associated Press he had been incarcerated for 21 months and that it was the first time in a long while he had enjoyed “real food.”

Queens County court records reviewed by Fox News Digital show McCoy was found guilty in May of two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a loaded firearm, as well as misdemeanor counts of criminal use of drug paraphernalia and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

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He was remanded without bail following the verdict and is scheduled to be sentenced July 22.

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The World Cup watch party was one of roughly 90 held at Rikers during the tournament. According to the mayor’s office, about 4,500 of the jail’s roughly 6,600 inmates participated as a reward for good behavior.

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

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

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During the visit, the mayor said those incarcerated remain “New Yorkers” and emphasized the importance of recognizing their humanity.

Another inmate interviewed by The Associated Press, Ralph Veal, is awaiting trial in Manhattan after pleading not guilty to multiple felony counts of third-degree grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property.

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In a news release recapping the city’s World Cup initiatives, the Mayor’s Office highlighted the Rikers watch parties alongside free fan festivals, discounted tickets, neighborhood watch parties and other tournament programming for New Yorkers.

“These are New Yorkers, and they will be New Yorkers when they get out of Rikers,” the mayor said. Correction Commissioner Stanley Richards defended the programming, saying, “Programs like this equal safety in our jail.”

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Earlier this year, Mamdani appointed former Rikers inmate Stanley Richards as correction commissioner after pledging to overhaul the city’s troubled jail system.

The appointment came as Rikers remained under federal oversight after a judge appointed an independent remediation manager to oversee reforms amid years of violence, staffing shortages and findings that city officials had failed to correct unconstitutional conditions inside the jail.

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Fox News Digital has submitted public records requests seeking the identities of inmates selected for the World Cup watch parties, the criteria used to determine eligibility and whether inmates charged with or convicted of violent felonies participated.

Fox News Digital also asked the Mayor’s Office whether Mamdani was briefed on the criminal histories of the inmates who attended before his visit.