The accused, Eduardo Valdivia, reportedly used various aliases like Lalo Brown and “El Boogie” to approach his alleged victims through an Instagram account associated with a tattoo parlor located in Gaithersburg. Assistant Police Chief Nicholas Augustine revealed during a news conference that neither woman was aware of Valdivia’s position with the FBI.
According to police reports, the sexual assaults occurred during photo shoots at a tattoo studio and in a hotel setting. Both women, who are in their twenties, expressed fears that Valdivia could have harmed them further if they tried to resist or escape, as noted in a police affidavit. Valdivia allegedly presented them with modeling contracts and warned them about possible legal repercussions if they did not comply with his requests to return for modeling sessions.
Detectives believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward, according to Augustine. He commended the victims who did report the incidents, stating that their bravery has likely prevented further victimization in the community.
Valdivia’s defense attorney, Robert Bonsib, claims that the interactions between Valdivia and the women were consensual and criticized the nature of the accusations, asserting that the actions were not criminal. Bonsib remarked to media outside the courthouse, “This conduct is not going to get you the first pew in the church,” emphasizing the need for realism about the case.
On Tuesday, a state district court judge remanded Valdivia without bond, believing that he presents both a danger to others and a flight risk. During the hearing, prosecutor Rachel Morris mentioned that law enforcement is currently interviewing a third potential victim who has recently come forward.
Following these developments, Valdivia has been placed on suspension by the FBI while the investigation is ongoing. An FBI spokesperson emphasized the agency’s commitment to addressing allegations of criminal conduct seriously but noted that no further comments could be made due to the ongoing investigation.
Valdivia, aged 40 and residing in Gaithersburg, had previously faced charges of attempted second-degree murder, where he was acquitted. This past incident stemmed from an off-duty shooting that took place on a moving Metro train near Washington, D.C.
Current online court documents indicate Valdivia is facing numerous charges, including felony and misdemeanor counts of second-degree rape. The alleged incidents reportedly occurred between May and September of 2024. The investigation kicked off in October after the women hesitated to report the assaults, feeling constrained by the contracts they had signed for modeling opportunities.
Police have noted that while they aren’t certain how long Valdivia has been running the tattoo parlor, he has been offering tattoo services since at least February. During the bond proceedings, Bonsib presented emails purportedly from the women to Valdivia, arguing these correspondences showcased that the interactions were consensual.
Notably, Bonsib admitted that Valdivia had portrayed himself as a modeling agency operator named Dr. Tiffany Kim in the emails sent to the women. One woman discovered a photo taken by Valdivia on an Instagram page, which led to a mutual acquaintance recognizing an image of the other woman, prompting them to connect about their experiences.
Valdivia joined the FBI in 2011 and was promoted to supervisory special agent at the FBI headquarters in 2019. In a separate incident that took place on December 15, 2020, Valdivia shot a man during a confrontation on a train; this altercation escalated from verbal disputes and resulted in serious injury to the passenger. The defense maintains that Valdivia acted in self-defense during that incident.
