Reading Man Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison for the Attempted Murder of Three FBI Agents

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Rafael Vega-Rodriguez, 42, of Reading, PA, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Joseph F. Leeson, Jr., to 540 months’ imprisonment, five years of supervised release, a $4,500 fine, and an $800 special assessment for shooting at and attempting to kill three FBI special agents.

In February of this year, Vega was convicted at trial of three counts of attempted murder of a federal law enforcement officer, three counts of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon, and two related firearms charges.

On March 1, 2020, in Reading, FBI agents were conducting surveillance while looking for the defendant, who was the subject of an active state arrest warrant for a parole violation. At approximately 11:45 p.m., the agents observed the defendant walking with a second individual. When the agents attempted to stop and arrest him pursuant to the warrant, Vega-Rodriguez drew a handgun from under his sweatshirt and fired at the agents. Vega-Rodriguez continued to shoot as he and the second individual fled from the scene. In total, Vega-Rodriguez fired four rounds at the agents.

After an intense manhunt, investigators discovered that Vega-Rodriguez had fled to Leola, Pennsylvania, approximately 30 miles southwest of Reading. In the early morning hours of March 3, 2020, FBI agents and Pennsylvania State Police Troopers located Vega-Rodriguez, who was hiding in a residence in Leola, and arrested him.

“Rafael Vega-Rodriguez tried to murder three FBI agents doing their job, which, on that day, was to effect his lawful arrest,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “He’s proven himself to be a violent, dangerous man, a threat not just to law enforcement, but the community, as well. We’re all safer with him behind bars and today’s sentence ensures that’s exactly where he’ll spend the next several decades of his life.”

“The FBI does not tolerate acts of violence against anyone, let alone against our own,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Each and every day, FBI agents place themselves in harm’s way to protect their fellow citizens. Today’s sentencing makes it clear that we will stop at nothing to bring to justice those who commit an act of violence against federal agents.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy M. Stengel and Everett Witherell and former Assistant United States Attorney Mary Futcher.