The 53-year-old investment banker is arrested and accused of hitting a 56-year-old MTA employee who fended him off with her LUNCH BAG – after he was denied access to a staff-only room at New York’s U.S. late at night – Train station was denied: faces up to seven years in prison
- An investment banker was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning for drunkenly beating a subway operator in New York City
- Jean-Francois Coste, 53, was at the Stillwell Avenue station in Coney Island around 12:30 p.m. when he got into an argument with an MTA operator
- Tanya McCray, 56, was about to start her shift when she saw Coste trying to get into a staff-only room
- McCray, a 21-year MTA veteran and train operator, told police when she denied Coste access and said he couldn’t get on, he punched her in the face
- Coste – who suffered a black eye and facial scratches after McCray fought back – was accused of assaulting, molesting and threatening an MTA worker
An investment banker was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning for allegedly hitting a New York City subway operator while she was drunk in Brooklyn.
Jean-Francois Coste, 53, was at the Stillwell Avenue station in Coney Island around 12:30 p.m. when he got into an argument with an MTA operator.
Tanya McCray, 56, was about to start her shift when she witnessed Coste – a senior equities analyst at Tocqueville Asset Management – attempting to gain access to an employees-only room.
McCray, a 21-year MTA veteran and train operator, told police when she denied Coste access and said he couldn’t get on, he punched her in the face.
Coste was accused of assaulting, harassing and threatening a transit worker. He was released without bail and is expected to appear in court again in March. Assaulting a transit worker is punishable by up to seven years in prison.
Jean-Francois Coste, 53, was at the Stillwell Avenue station in Coney Island around 12:30 p.m. when he got into an argument with an MTA operator
Tanya McCray, 56, was about to start her shift when she witnessed Coste trying to gain access to a staff-only room. McCray told police that when she refused Coste entry, saying he couldn’t get in, he punched her in the face
She said: “I didn’t see him hit me. I didn’t see the shot, it went so fast.”
The MTA veteran fended off Coste by hitting him in the face with her thermos and lunch bag before a colleague helped her.
There were many police officers at the station as not only does the station have a police station, but there are usually police officers there to contact homeless subway riders at this late hour.
They took Coste into custody after he tried to run into an empty train and police were able to corner him.
McCray suffered multiple bruises and was taken to a local hospital. McCray, her bosses and her union are demanding the full sentence for Coste.
There were many police officers at the station as not only does the station have a police station, but there are usually police officers there to contact homeless subway riders at this late hour
Coste was taken into custody after he tried to run into an empty train and police were able to corner him
The MTA veteran fended off Coste by hitting him in the face with her thermos and lunch bag before a colleague helped her
A Brooklyn judge told Coste to stay away from McCray. He declined comment when reached by the Daily News at his Brooklyn home.
She said of her attacker on Saturday: “I hope justice is done. I hope he gets jail time.’
Police sources told the New York Daily News they suspected Coste – who they believed to be clearly intoxicated – was trying to use the bathroom.
Transport Workers Union President Richard Davis added, “We’re going to see this guy in court… No more slapping.”
McCray said of her attacker on Saturday: “I hope justice is done. I hope he gets jail time.’
Coste – who suffered a black eye and scratches to his face – was accused of assaulting, harassing and threatening a transit worker. He was released without bail and is expected to appear in court again in March
NYC Transit Chief Operating Officer Craig Cipriano said his agency has “zero tolerance” for attacks on transit workers.
While overall crime in the city rose nearly 25 percent in 2022, transit crime was down in November, with the city crediting a surge in policing the subway system.
Crime assaults are up 12.8 percent through December 11 in the five counties.
Coste – who suffered a black eye and scratches to his face – had no prior arrest record. He has been an equity analyst for Tocqueville for 14 years. has reached out to both the company and McCray for comment.