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Rikers transferred 3 guards accused of sexual abuse out of women’s jail
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Sep 27, 2024
Modified Sep 28, 2024
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Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Sep 27, 2024
Modified Sep 28, 2024
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Gothamist's reporting on sexual assault allegations at Rikers Island was recognized as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. You can read our entire series here.
Three jail guards accused of raping and sexually abusing detainees were transferred out of the women’s jail on Rikers Island, according to the Department of Correction. Their removal comes weeks after Gothamist first questioned city officials about whether the officers had been investigated, as required by federal guidelines.
Terrell Armstead, Valery Attimy and Anthony Rizzo were identified in lawsuits filed last year by women who said the men sexually abused them while they were held at the Rose M. Singer Center at Rikers. They’re among more than 700 women who filed lawsuits under the Adult Survivors Act, which opened a one-year window for sexual assault survivors to file claims outside of the statute of limitations.
"Given the nature and the severity of the allegations in these instances, it was determined that it is in the best interest of all parties that the employees be moved out of the facility during the pendency of the lawsuits," said Annais Morales, the correction department's press secretary.
Attimy declined to speak to Gothamist without a lawyer present. Armstead hung up the phone on a Gothamist reporter. Rizzo could not be reached for comment.
The correction officer's union stood by the officers, with its President Benny Boscio saying they were "unfairly subjected to unfounded allegations in order to advance a lawsuit against them."
"Allegations are just that, allegations, not facts," Boscio said in a statement. "They are entitled to their due process just like anyone else and we urge the public not to rush to judgment."
Adam Slater, an attorney who represents a woman who accused Armstead of conducting sexually invasive strip searches on her, said the department should go beyond transferring the officers. He called on them to be investigated and terminated.
“This is far too little, too late," Slater said in a written statement. "It’s moving around the problem, rather than solving it.”
Anna Kull, an attorney who represents one client who accused Rizzo of rape and another who accused Attimy of groping her vagina, said the officers should have been removed from the women's jail as soon as the lawsuits were filed last year.
"This delay means these officers, and likely many others, remained employed in proximity to incarcerated women," Kull said in an emailed statement. "Allegations of rampant sexual abuse at Rikers must be thoroughly investigated, and those responsible must face consequences."
Two other guards identified in the lawsuits were still employed by the Department of Correction. One was arrested and charged with raping a woman at his home earlier this year while posing as a television producer casting for a new show. Three additional women have accused that officer, Anthony Martin Jr., of sexually assaulting and abusing them at Rikers. Martin Jr. was suspended after his arrest and placed on unpaid leave.
The city's Department of Investigation handles more serious cases of alleged misconduct by jail staff. Spokesperson Diane Struzzi declined to comment on whether it was investigating any of the allegations made in the civil lawsuits.
Last month, the correction department said that none of the five guards Gothamist identified had faced discipline for sexual misconduct. The lack of interest in investigating the claims contrasts with Mayor Eric Adams’ earlier promise of a “thorough investigation” into the hundreds of allegations against jail staff. A growing number of lawmakers have called on the mayor to make good on that promise. Adams is also facing a sexual harassment lawsuit of his own.
A Gothamist analysis of city data shows that investigations into sexual abuse at Rikers have languished since Adams took office in 2022.
The news also comes several days after a judge ordered the city to continue conversations on whether the federal government should take control of Rikers Island. Reports of violence, abuse and other subpar living conditions have plagued the troubled city jail for years.
The mayor’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Gothamist.
This story was updated to include comment from the correction officer's union.
Tagged
Rikers Lawsuits
new york city
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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