Table of Contents
- The Fall of an FBI Agent
- How He Lured His Victims
- Trial and Sentencing
- Victims Speak Out
- FBI Response and Aftermath
- Sources
The Fall of an FBI Agent
Eduardo Valdivia, a former FBI special agent with over a decade of service, has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for raping three women at tattoo parlors he operated under a secret alias. The shocking case has sent ripples through law enforcement circles and raised serious questions about oversight within federal agencies.
Valdivia, 41, used his undercover training to create false personas and manipulate young women into vulnerable situations. Prosecutors say the FBI was completely unaware of his side business—and the crimes committed within it.
How He Lured His Victims
Operating under the alias “Lalo Brown,” Valdivia ran tattoo studios in Potomac and Gaithersburg, Maryland. He enticed victims with promises of free tattoos and modeling contracts—offers that quickly turned sinister.
According to court documents, Valdivia created elaborate fake identities to gain trust:
- “L. Boogie” – a modeling photographer
- “Dr. Tiffany Kim” – a psychologist and CEO of a modeling agency
One victim, an 18-year-old high school senior, discovered his Potomac studio through an Instagram post. She was raped there on October 2, 2022. Two other women in their early 20s were assaulted in 2024 at his Gaithersburg location—and one was later sexually assaulted again in a hotel suite staged as a “photo shoot.”
To further control his victims, Valdivia forced them to sign fake modeling contracts and nondisclosure agreements, threatening legal and financial consequences if they spoke out.
Trial and Sentencing
In July 2025, a Montgomery County jury convicted Valdivia on six counts of second-degree rape and two counts of fourth-degree sex offense. At his sentencing on October 14, 2025, prosecutors pushed for the maximum 122-year sentence, citing the calculated and predatory nature of his crimes.
Instead, Judge Steven G. Salant handed down a 60-year prison term—a sentence that still ensures Valdivia will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Valdivia’s defense attorney, Robert C. Bonsib, stated his client maintains the encounters were consensual but acknowledged the trauma caused. “He recognized that his conduct was immoral and unethical,” Bonsib said.
Notably, Valdivia had previously faced an unrelated attempted murder charge in 2022 for allegedly shooting a panhandler near a Bethesda Metro station. He was acquitted in December 2022.
Victims Speak Out
Two of the three survivors gave powerful victim impact statements during sentencing. Identified only by initials in court records, one woman called Valdivia a “monster” and emphasized the importance of his incarceration.
“The main fact is, he’s locked up, which is important… that he is separated from the rest of us, and that’s all that matters to me.”
Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy praised their courage: “It’s the bravery of these three young women… that’s the reason we stand here today.”
FBI Response and Aftermath
Valdivia was fired from the FBI within the past month, according to his attorney. The agency claims it had no knowledge of his tattoo businesses, which violated FBI policies requiring approval for outside employment.
When contacted for comment, the FBI’s Washington field office issued an automated response citing the ongoing government shutdown, stating that only “national security, violations of federal law, and essential public safety functions” are being addressed.
Valdivia plans to appeal his conviction, but legal experts say the evidence—including his attempt to destroy surveillance footage after learning of the arrest warrant—severely undermines his case.
