A former FDNY firefighter was sentenced on Thursday to four to 12 years in prison for killing a Queens airport worker in a crash while driving drunk and high on drugs, officials said.

Before receiving his sentence, Michael Peña, who pleaded guilty earlier this month to manslaughter for the crash that killed Justin Diaz, 23, was forced to sit and listen as the victim's family stood before the court and condemned the man who allowed a night of partying to destroy their lives.

 You took an oath to save lives, but instead chose to get behind a wheel drunk, high… and take the life of my son,  the victim's mother, Toni Ann Diaz, told Peña in court on Thursday.  You fundamentally negated everything that New York's Bravest stands for and showed your cowardice instead. 

Diaz was passing through East Elmhurst on his way to his baggage-handling job at LaGuardia Airport on Feb. 26, 2025 when Peña blew through a red light at 83 mph and T-boned the victim's BMW.

Peña later tested positive for cocaine and marijuana, and had a blood-alcohol content of 0.156 - nearly twice the legal limit, prosecutors said.

 I find it impossible not to consider the relevance between Michael Pena's career as a firefighter and his behavior,  Angelina Diaz, the victim's younger sister, said at Peña's sentencing.  On the JoinFDNY website, it is stated that the position calls for an excellence of character that, evidently, Michael Peña does not possess. 

The then off-duty firefighter had been partying at a bar in Bayside when he got behind the wheel and slammed into Diaz's BMW after flying through the intersection at 107th St. and Northern Blvd. nearly 60 mph over the speed limit.

Surveillance videos at the bar recorded Peña having his first drink around 6 p.m., nearly 11 hours before the 4:15 a.m. crash, prosecutors said.

 Michael Peña has walked around as if he is a victim,  the victim's father, Franklin Diaz, said in court.  His friends and family can write letters and continue to visit him in prison. In a few years, He will be released… and will have the opportunity to continue his life. I have to go to the cemeter

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