Armored Truck Driver Charged For Stealing $1.6 Million In Cash
/By Jonathan Sperling
He’s accused of stealing what he was paid to protect.
A 37-year-old armored truck driver has been charged with grand larceny for allegedly stealing more than $1.6 million in cash while on duty, Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced Thursday.
Riguerson Avril of 85th Street in Queens, was arraigned before Queens Criminal Court Judge David J. Kirschner on charges of first- and second-degree grand larceny and first- and second-degree criminal possession of stolen property for allegedly swiping a bag of cash from a pallet and kicking it underneath a delivery truck on July 23.
He was arrested when he showed up to work and allegedly admitted to taking the bag, shoving it under the truck toward the vehicle’s cab and covering it with a raincoat.
“The defendant allegedly took advantage of his access to enrich himself. He stashed a bag of bills under a truck and then left with the money. He returned to work the following day as if nothing was amiss,” Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said in a statement. “If the allegations are proven true, the defendant will face a long term of incarceration as a result of his greed.”
After allegedly grabbing the cash, Avril took the bag to his own car and said he put the money into a suitcase that he eventually gave to a friend for safekeeping, according to the district attorney’s office. All but $10,000 worth of the cash was later retrieved in Philadelphia. Avril was also allegedly seen on video surveillance removing the bag.
The case is currently being overseen by Assistant District Attorney Lissa Yang of Brown’s Economic Crimes Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Gregory C. Pavlides, Bureau Chief and Christina Hanophy, Deputy Chief and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Peter A. Crusco.
If convicted of the charges, Avril faces up to 25 years in prison. He is currently on supervised release.
