FBI agent accused of raping women in Montgomery County – NBC New York

An FBI agent is accused of luring women to his tattoo studio in Gaithersburg, Maryland, then raping and assaulting them, police said.

Eduardo Valdivia, 40, was arrested on Monday. Montgomery County Police Department investigators said two women contacted police and said Valdivia raped them at D.C. Fine Line Tattoos on Washington Boulevard.

Both women said they went to the tattoo studio believing there were modeling opportunities at Exeter Models. Police said they thought the women were communicating with a woman before arriving at the studio.

A woman told police in October that she was raped by a man she knew as “Lalo Brown,” police said. A second victim came forward with a similar report in November, according to police. Police said both women sexually assaulted them during their filmed modeling appointment and that they did not consent.

Investigators later identified “Lalo Brown” as Valdivia and both women recognized him as the attacker, police said. Police said Valdivia also used the nickname “El Boogie.”

Police said at a news conference Tuesday that Valdivia used fake names on Instagram and made women sign modeling contracts, which he used as blackmail.

“In these two cases, these two victims felt like they were being held back because they had signed a contract to do this type of work and had not made any disclosure about whatever was in the contract at the time,” Deputy Police Chief Nicholas Augustine said.

Later Tuesday, prosecutors announced that a third potential victim had come forward in court.

Valdivia’s lawyer, Robert Bonsib, said his client had consensual sex with the women.

“Let them do it. You know, the first two are no longer victims, and if you read and interpret the statement of charge, this third person probably won’t be a victim either. This statement of charge does not allege typical victimization. We see these types of allegations of rape. These women are women who can walk out the door whenever they want.” “They went to a business office in Rio, which was an open space, and they didn’t just walk out the door, they came back.” Bonsib said.

Prosecutors said Valdivia was captured on surveillance video leaving the tattoo studio with a box after learning of the arrest warrant. When police searched the studio, they found that none of the cameras inside had SD cards, according to prosecutors.

The judge sentenced Valdivia to prison without bail, saying he was a danger to society and a flight risk.

Investigators fear there may be more victims.

“So we want the community to know that even though you signed a contract, that doesn’t allow you to be sexually assaulted. And we want victims to come forward, even if they signed a ‘confidentiality’ or something like that. Augustine, come forward and tell us about it so we can tell them we can help and shut them down,” he said.

Police said Valdivia was the same FBI agent who was killed. acquitted of attempted murder After shooting a man on a subway train near the Medical Center Station in Bethesda in 2020. He was off duty at the time of the shooting.

After his acquittal, Valdivia continued his employment with the FBI and worked as a supervisory special agent, police said.

Investigators said he tattooed in his spare time late at night and on weekends.

The FBI Washington Field Office sent the following statement to NBC Washington: “The FBI takes allegations of criminal violations and misconduct very seriously. We are aware of the matter regarding the recent arrest of an FBI employee and are fully cooperating with the Montgomery County Police Department. This is an ongoing matter.” “As the investigation continues, the FBI cannot comment further regarding Eduardo Valdivia’s employment; he is currently suspended pending the outcome of the Montgomery County Police Department investigation.”

Valdivia faces six counts of second-degree rape, two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and eight counts of second-degree assault.

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