Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, along with Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced that Suzette Trimmingham and Mervin Rhymes have pleaded guilty to a bribery scheme. Trimmingham, a former NYPD traffic safety officer, and Rhymes, owner of an accident victim call center, admitted to exchanging bribes for non-public information from an NYPD database.
Trimmingham provided details about automobile accident victims to Rhymes in return for monetary compensation and other benefits. Trimmingham entered her plea before U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl, while Rhymes did so before U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams.
“Suzette Trimmingham abused her position as an NYPD traffic safety officer and, in exchange for bribes, sent Mervin Rhymes information about automobile accident victims so that Rhymes’s call center could profit by referring those victims to lawyers and doctors,” stated U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Trimmingham and Rhymes made hundreds of thousands of dollars from their scheme.”
Michael Alfonso emphasized that “Suzette Trimmingham exploited her position of public trust” alongside her partner Mervin Rhymes by accessing private data from government databases even when off-duty or on vacation.
Christopher G. Raia remarked that “the defendants prioritized personal greed over safeguarding sensitive victim data.” He stressed that the FBI would not allow any individual to share confidential information for financial gain.
Court records reveal that from January 2020 through June 2024, Trimmingham accessed police accident reports containing personal information not related to her duties at various times including during vacations. She then shared this data with Rhymes who compensated her financially.
For instance, in April 2024 while at work, she compiled names and phone numbers from these reports into documents which were sent to Rhymes. On January 18, 2021, they discussed payment arrangements for these documents indicating their ongoing financial transactions linked to this activity.
Both individuals are residents of Queens, New York—Trimmingham is 54 years old and Rhymes is 61 years old—and each pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery carrying a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for October 8th; Trimmingham’s will be overseen by Judge Koeltl at 4:30 p.m., while Judge Abrams will handle Rhymes’ sentencing earlier that day at 11:30 a.m.
The investigation was praised by Mr. Clayton who acknowledged contributions from both the FBI and HSI as well as assistance provided by the NYPD.
The case falls under the jurisdiction of the Public Corruption Unit with Assistant U.S Attorneys Connie L. Dang and Rebecca T. Dell leading prosecution efforts.
