Investment banker, 53, arrested and charged with drunkenly punching female MTA worker, 56

An investment banker was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning for allegedly punching a female New York City subway operator while intoxicated in Brooklyn. 

Jean-Francois Coste, 53, was inside the Stillwell Avenue station on Coney Island at around 12:30 a.m. when he got into an argument with an MTA operator.

Tanya McCray, 56, was about to begin her shift when she witnessed Coste – a senior equity analyst at Tocqueville Asset Management – attempting to access a room for employees only.

McCray, a 21-year veteran of the MTA and a train operator, told police that when she denied Coste access and said he couldn’t get in, he punched her in the face. 

Coste has been charged with assaulting a transit employee, harassment and menacing. He was released without bail and is expected to appear in court again in March. Assault on a transit worker carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison.

Jean-Francois Coste, 53, was inside the Stillwell Avenue station on Coney Island at around 12:30 a.m. when he got into an argument with an MTA operator

Tanya McCray, 56, was about to begin her shift when she witnessed Coste attempting to access a room for employees only. McCray told police that when she denied Coste access and said he couldn’t get in, he punched her in the face

She said: ‘I didn’t see him punch me. I didn’t see the punch, it happened so fast.’

The MTA veteran was able to fight off Coste by hitting him in the face with her thermos and lunch bag before being assisted by a co-worker. 

There were a lot of police officers at the station as not only does the stop have a police precinct, there are usually officers there as part of an attempt to connect with homeless subway riders at that late hour. 

They took Coste into custody after he attempted to run into an idling train and cops were able to corner him. 

McCray suffered several bruises and was taken to a local hospital. McCray, her bosses and her union are demanding the full punishment for Coste. 

There were a lot of police officers at the station as not only does the stop have a police precinct, there are usually officers there as part of an attempt to connect with homeless subway riders at that late hour

 Coste was taken into custody after he attempted to run into an idling train and cops were able to corner him

The MTA veteran was able to fight off Coste by hitting him in the face with her thermos and lunch bag before being assisted by a co-worker

A Brooklyn judge told Coste to stay clear of McCray. He declined comment when reached at his Brooklyn home by the Daily News.

She said of her attacker 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 saw as clearly drunk – was trying to use the bathroom. 

Transport Workers Union President Richard Davis added: ‘We will see this guy in court …. No more slaps on the wrist.’

McCray said of her attacker Saturday: ‘I hope justice is done. I hope he gets jail time.’

Coste – who suffered a black eye and scratches to his face – has been charged with assaulting a transit employee, harassment and menacing. 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 against transit workers. 

While overall crime in the city is up nearly 25 percent in 2022, transit crime had gone down in November, with the city crediting a surge in police on the subway system. 

Felony assaults are up 12.8 percent across the five boroughs through December 11. 

Coste – who suffered a black eye and scratches to his face – had no prior arrest record. He has served as an equity analyst for Tocqueville for 14 years. DailyMail.com reached out to the firm, as well as McCray, for comment.