GAITHERSBURG, Md. — An FBI agent in Maryland faces charges of sexually assaulting two women after he allegedly contacted them through social media, offering free tattoos and modeling opportunities, according to local law enforcement officials. Montgomery County Assistant Police Chief Nicholas Augustine discussed the case at a news conference, urging any other potential victims to step forward.
The two women, both in their twenties, were unaware that their assailant, identified as Eduardo Valdivia, was an agent with the FBI. Valdivia reportedly used different aliases, including Lalo Brown, to reach out to the women via an Instagram account associated with a tattoo shop located in Gaithersburg.
Police allege that Valdivia sexually assaulted the women during photo shoots at both a tattoo studio and a hotel. Assistant Chief Augustine revealed that Valdivia had presented the women with modeling contracts and threatened them with legal action if they refused to model for him again. Investigators suspect that there may be additional victims who experienced similar situations involving Valdivia.
Augustine expressed his gratitude to the victims who came forward, recognizing their courage in stopping Valdivia’s actions, which could potentially have protected others from being victimized.
Following the allegations, Valdivia has been suspended from his duties at the FBI while the investigation continues. A spokesperson for the FBI stated that the agency takes claims of misconduct very seriously and, due to the ongoing investigation, cannot provide further comments.
Valdivia, aged 40 and originally from Gaithersburg, was previously charged in 2022 for attempted second-degree murder in a separate incident involving an off-duty shooting on a Metro train near Washington, D.C., although he was acquitted of those charges. Current court records indicate he is facing numerous charges, including two counts of second-degree rape, stemming from incidents that occurred in May and September of 2024.
Robert Bonsib, the defense attorney who represented Valdivia during the previous shooting case, confirmed his client’s recent arrest on the new sexual assault charges, stating that they will thoroughly review the evidence before accepting any allegations at face value.
The police investigation commenced in October, and the women initially hesitated to report the incidents due to concerns regarding clauses in the modeling contracts they had signed. Augustine noted that Valdivia had been actively tattooing since at least February but said they were unsure how long the tattoo business had been operating.
Following an initial court appearance on Monday, Valdivia was ordered to remain in custody, with a bond hearing set for Tuesday afternoon. Bonsib mentioned that Valdivia joined the FBI in 2011 and was promoted to supervisory special agent at FBI headquarters in 2019.
In a previous incident on December 15, 2020, Valdivia was involved in a confrontation on a Metro train that escalated into a shooting, where he injured an unarmed passenger. County prosecutor Robert Hill stated in court that Valdivia shot the man from a close distance after warning him to back away. The injured party underwent significant surgery as a result of his injuries. Bonsib has maintained that Valdivia acted in self-defense, arguing that one is not required to wait to be attacked before taking defensive action.
