Ex-FBI Agent Faces Federal Charges
PHOTO CAPTION: Former FBI Special Agent Andrew Reyes leaves federal court in Brooklyn, New York, on November 5, 2026, after pleading not guilty to charges stemming from an alleged February hit-and-run involving his government-issued vehicle. (Photo by Dean Moses/amNewYork.)
A former FBI special agent has been indicted on federal civil rights and false-statement charges after prosecutors alleged he struck a pedestrian with his government-issued vehicle, dragged the unconscious man onto a sidewalk bench and drove away without requesting medical assistance.
Andrew Reyes, 30, of Brooklyn, New York, was arrested November 5 after federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment detailing an alleged February hit-and-run involving an FBI vehicle.
According to the Justice Department, Reyes was driving the wrong way along a major Brooklyn roadway with his emergency lights activated when he ran a red light and struck a man crossing the street.
Prosecutors allege Reyes got out of the car, moved the severely injured pedestrian from the roadway to a nearby bench, retrieved the victim's bag and placed it beside him.
He then allegedly returned to his vehicle and left without calling emergency medical personnel or reporting the collision to the FBI.
Months later, investigators say Reyes falsely denied having struck anyone with his government vehicle without reporting it.
Reyes pleaded not guilty during his November 5 federal court appearance. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Prosecutors Say Agent Was Driving Against Traffic
The incident allegedly occurred around 6:20 a.m. on February 3, 2026, near the intersection of Ocean Parkway and Beverley Road in Brooklyn.
According to the indictment, Reyes was driving an FBI-issued Chevrolet Impala equipped with emergency lights.
The lights were activated as Reyes approached the intersection.
Prosecutors allege he traveled northbound in the southbound lanes of Ocean Parkway, crossed the intersection against a red traffic signal and struck a pedestrian who was walking through the crosswalk.
The collision knocked the man to the pavement and rendered him unconscious.
The indictment does not establish why Reyes was driving against traffic, whether he was responding to an emergency or what circumstances led him to activate the vehicle's emergency lights.
Those questions may become relevant as the criminal case proceeds.
Unconscious Victim Allegedly Left on Sidewalk Bench
What happened after the collision is central to the federal charges.
Rather than seeking immediate medical assistance, prosecutors allege Reyes approached the unconscious pedestrian and dragged him out of the roadway.
He reportedly moved the man across the sidewalk and placed him on a nearby bench.
Reyes then allegedly returned to the street, retrieved the pedestrian's bag and placed it beside him.
According to the indictment, Reyes got back into his FBI vehicle, which still had its emergency lights activated, and drove away.
The Justice Department alleges he made no effort to contact medical personnel, notify authorities or report the crash to the FBI.
The man was left severely injured and unattended.
The victim has not been publicly identified. Subsequent reporting indicates that he survived, but the full extent of his injuries and recovery remains unclear.
Investigators Say Reyes Lied Months Later
The charges also concern what Reyes allegedly told federal investigators after the incident.
On May 1, agents with the Justice Department's Office of Inspector General interviewed him about the collision.
According to prosecutors, investigators asked whether he had ever struck someone with his FBI-issued vehicle and failed to report the incident.
Reyes allegedly denied having done so.
Federal authorities contend that the denial was knowingly false.
That alleged statement became the basis for a separate federal false-statements charge.
The Office of Inspector General investigates allegations involving misconduct within the Justice Department and its agencies, including the FBI.
The FBI's New York Field Office cooperated with the investigation, according to federal prosecutors.
Why the Case Involves Federal Civil Rights Charges
Reyes was charged with willfully depriving an individual of constitutional rights while acting under color of law.
That charge concerns alleged misconduct committed through the misuse of governmental authority.
In this case, the government alleges Reyes was acting in his official capacity as an FBI agent and using a government-issued vehicle when the incident occurred.
The indictment focuses not only on the collision but also on his alleged actions toward the injured pedestrian afterward.
Prosecutors contend that moving the unconscious man and abandoning him without medical assistance violated his constitutional rights.
The criminal case also includes the charge of making false statements to federal investigators.
These are allegations that the government must prove in court.
Reyes has not been convicted, and the indictment is not a judicial finding that he committed the alleged conduct.
Former Agent Pleads Not Guilty and Is Released on Bond
Reyes appeared in federal court in Brooklyn on November 5.
Through his attorney, federal public defender Nora Hirozawa, he pleaded not guilty.
A judge authorized his release on a $100,000 bond co-signed by his parents.
His release conditions include surrendering his passport and restricting travel to New York and New Jersey.
During the hearing, prosecutors also requested a mental health evaluation, citing an unusual comment Reyes allegedly made about an investigator's firearm during an earlier interview.
His attorney described the remark as odd but disputed the need for that condition.
The judge declined to order the evaluation.
Reyes is scheduled to return to court December 2.
If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.
Reyes Is No Longer With the FBI
Reyes joined the FBI as a special agent in 2023 after working for the agency for several years, according to court reporting.
His defense attorney said he had worked for the FBI for more than nine years in total.
The Associated Press reported that the agency terminated him after learning of the allegations.
At his arraignment, his attorney said Reyes was working for a home remodeling business.
The circumstances and exact timing of his departure from the FBI have not been fully detailed publicly.
The Justice Department confirmed that the FBI cooperated with investigators reviewing the incident.
Prosecutors Call Alleged Conduct a Betrayal of Public Trust
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr., who leads the Eastern District of New York, condemned the conduct described in the indictment.
Nocella said the alleged actions showed disregard for the injured pedestrian and the responsibilities associated with federal law enforcement authority.
He also emphasized that government employees are subject to criminal accountability when prosecutors believe they have abused their positions.
The case is being handled by federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York with involvement from the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and Office of Inspector General.
The indictment was made public approximately nine months after the alleged collision.
Questions Remain About the Victim and the Investigation
Although the indictment provides a detailed account of the alleged collision and aftermath, several important questions remain unanswered.
Authorities have not publicly identified the pedestrian or provided a comprehensive account of his medical condition.
The public record also does not fully explain what circumstances led Reyes to drive against traffic with emergency lights activated.
It remains unclear how investigators first learned about the incident, what evidence they gathered to reconstruct the collision or whether additional witnesses will testify.
Those matters may become clearer as prosecutors and defense attorneys present evidence.
For now, the central allegation is straightforward.
Federal authorities say an FBI agent struck a pedestrian with a government vehicle, moved the unconscious victim onto a bench, left without obtaining medical assistance and later denied the encounter.
Reyes denies the charges.
His next court appearance is scheduled for December 2, when the federal case will continue.
(Source: OAF Nation)
