PA man sentenced to nearly 50 years in prison for attempted murder of FBI agents

( WJET/WFXP ) – A Pennsylvania man will serve decades in prison after attempting to murder three Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agents.

On Wednesday, July 24, United States District Court Judge Joseph F. Leeson sentenced 41-year-old Rafael Vega-Rodriguez to pay over $5,000 in fines, as well as serve 45 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for shooting at and attempting to kill three FBI special agents.

In February of 2024, Vega-Rodriguez 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.

According to information provided by the United States Attorney’s Office, FBI agents were conducting surveillance on March 1, 2020. in Reading, Pennsylvania.

The agents were looking for Vega-Rodriguez, who was the subject of an active arrest warrant for a parole violation.

When agents located Vega-Rodriguez and attempted to arrest him, he pulled out a handgun and shot four rounds at the agents before fleeing on foot. This altercation led to a two-day manhunt across Pennsylvania.

Vega-Rodriguez was eventually found 30 miles southwest of Reading on March 3, 2020, and was subsequently arrested.

Wayne A. Jacobs, the special agent in charge of FBI Philadelphia commented on the the agency’s low tolerance for violent crimes such as this.

“The FBI does not tolerate acts of violence against anyone, let alone against our own,” said Jacobs. “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 FBI was responsible for investigating this case.

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