A former FBI agent is facing federal charges after he allegedly hit a pedestrian with his government-issued vehicle, left the victim on a bench and then lied about the incident, which left a man severely injured, prosecutors said.
Andrew Reyes, 30, was arrested the morning of Nov. 5 and charged with violating the man's civil rights as an FBI agent by moving him and driving off without getting help, according to an indictment filed in the Eastern District of New York. Reyes also faces charges of giving false statements to investigators about the crash.
At the time of the hit-and-run, Reyes was assigned to the FBI's New York Field Office, where he had worked for the agency since around 2023, according to the four-page indictment.
It was not immediately
known when Reyes was due in court on the charges.
Reyes’ attorney, Federal Public Defender Nora Hirozawa, told the Associated Press that Reyes would be pleading not guilty. She declined further comment.
USA TODAY has reached out to Hirozawa.
FBI agent dragged man from street and 'put him on bench'
The crash took place about 6:20 a.m. ET on Feb. 3 in Brooklyn, New York, while Reyes drove his FBI-issued Chevrolet Impala. The agent drove through a red light with his vehicle's emergency lights on, court papers show.
The car struck a male pedestrian, injuring him and knocking him unconscious, according to the indictment. Reyes then allegedly approached the man, dragged him from the street across a sidewalk and put him on a bench.
Reyes then returned to the street, grabbed the man's bag and placed it on the bench beside the victim, court papers continue. He then allegedly returned to his vehicle and drove off, leaving the injured man unattended.
According to the indictment, Reyes did not seek medical attention for the man, alert medical authorities or report the crash to the FBI.
During a May 1 interview with the Department of Justice's Office of Inspector General, when asked whether he had ever hit anyone with a car, "Reyes falsely stated that he had not," according to the indictment.
The indictment, filed Nov. 2, was unsealed Nov. 5, court filings reviewed by USA TODAY show.
“The defendant’s alleged conduct demonstrated a shocking disregard for human life and his sworn oath to uphold the law," Joseph Nocella, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York said. "The charges announced today send the clear message that no one is above the law and those who abuse their position of trust and deprive citizens of their constitutional rights will be prosecuted.”
According to a news release from Nocella's office, Reyes is no longer working for the FBI.
Natalie Neysa Alund is senior reporter at USA TODAY. Email me at nalund@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ex-FBI agent charged in hit-and-run that left pedestrian injured in NY
