Man accused of stealing FBI van, body armor from storage facility

SAN FRANCISCO >> Federal prosecutors have charged a man with illegally entering an FBI storage facility, stealing body armor and making off in an unmarked FBI car, which he allegedly used to go joyriding.

Angelo Valdez, 30, faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison if convicted of theft of government property and depredation of property belonging to the United States. The charges stem from an Oct. 22 theft at an FBI storage facility in the 2500 block of Cesar Chavez Street in San Francisco.

According to federal prosecutors, Valdez was seen on a security video entering the property and first spending about half an hour inside a crisis negotiation van before moving to an unmarked 2018 Chevy Tahoe. He allegedly drove the Tahoe out of the facility, but not until he had taken a body armor vest and other small items belonging to the FBI.

The next day, a jogger noticed the van driving through an area of Golden Gate Park where vehicles are not allowed, smashing into random objects. At some point, the Tahoe became stuck. When confronted, Valdez allegedly told an eyewitness something to the effect of, “I’m Angelo, I work here.”

A passing San Francisco police officer tried to arrest Valdez, but he ran away. He was not apprehended until two days later, by U.S. Park Police. When he was arrested, he was wearing the stolen body armor.

Federal authorities showed the jogger a photo lineup but he was not able to positively identify Valdez. Still, prosecutors charged Valdez based on the other evidence. He has not yet entered a plea and remains in federal custody, according to court records.