Delaware County Predator Brent Trimbell Faces Federal Charges

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Brent G. Trimbell, 44, of Delaware County, is facing serious federal charges after allegedly engaging in the sexual exploitation of a child. Trimbell was arrested Sunday evening and made his initial court appearance today, accused of a disturbing pattern of abuse facilitated through social media.

According to the complaint, Trimbell exchanged sexually explicit messages with a female child victim, actively persuading her to create and send him videos depicting sexually explicit acts. Investigators allege the victim complied with Trimbell’s demands, sending the requested content over social media platforms. The depravity didn’t stop there; authorities also claim Trimbell engaged in direct sexual contact with the victim on at least three separate occasions, and further compounded the abuse by sending the victim videos of himself masturbating.

This isn’t Trimbell’s first brush with the law regarding these offenses. State authorities previously charged him with state-level sex offenses related to the same conduct. However, he was released on bail – a decision Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III sharply criticized. “Trimbell was charged with serious state sex offenses but was released on bail,” Sarcone stated. “Now, Trimbell is in federal custody—facing serious federal offenses—which if convicted, will result in a mandatory term of imprisonment of 15 years. This is how we keep the children in our community safe.”

If convicted of sexual exploitation of a child, Trimbell faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison, alongside a mandatory minimum of 15 years. He also faces a term of supervised release of at least five years, potentially extending to life, a fine of $250,000, forfeiture of any property used in the commission of the crime, and a requirement to pay restitution to the victim. A lifetime registration as a sex offender is also likely if he is found guilty.

The FBI Albany Field Office, in coordination with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, spearheaded the investigation. Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli emphasized the collaborative effort. “FBI Albany is incredibly thankful for the swift coordination from our partners…that has now resulted in serious federal charges against Mr. Trimbell,” Tremaroli said. “The FBI, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to coordinate…to ensure anyone hurting our most vulnerable is investigated and brought to justice.”

Following his initial appearance, Trimbell was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending further legal proceedings. It’s crucial to remember that these are merely accusations at this stage, and Trimbell is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative dedicated to combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. More information on Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.