Former Football Star Released from Jail After Armed Cash Heist
Arapahoe County, CO — Devin Aguilar, a former high school football standout from Colorado and University of Washington alum, was released from Arapahoe County Jail last month after serving less than a year for his involvement in a dramatic armed cash heist. The robbery, which involved over $1.2 million in cash, has been described by investigators as resembling a scene from a Hollywood movie.
Aguilar, 35, orchestrated the heist on December 1, 2021, targeting a cash transport van as it arrived at a facility responsible for handling money for marijuana businesses. According to police reports and surveillance footage, Aguilar armed himself and followed the van into the garage where the driver, unaware of the impending danger, was confronted at gunpoint. He instructed her to fill two large trash bags with cash, totaling $1,224,785.37. The situation escalated when Aguilar cocked his weapon, further instilling fear in the driver.
Despite his planning, Aguilar encountered a major obstacle during his escape: he struggled to carry the heavy bags of cash, leaving them abandoned about 700 yards from the scene. Additionally, he left behind crucial evidence—a pair of gloves containing his DNA, which was already on file due to a previous burglary charge.
Authorities quickly identified Aguilar as a suspect, connecting him to Fawn Huya, a lead teller at the cash transport business. Investigators discovered detailed plans and sketches for the heist on Huya’s phone, along with video footage she had taken of the facility. Although she claimed ignorance of Aguilar’s intentions, her relationship with him and subsequent lies to investigators raised suspicions. Huya ultimately pled guilty to armed robbery and received a six-month jail sentence, along with six years of probation.
In a plea deal, Aguilar pled guilty to felony theft and aggravated robbery. Prosecutors sought a 15 to 20-year prison sentence, emphasizing the severity of the crime and the impact on the victims. However, Judge Joseph Whitfield sentenced Aguilar to only one year in jail and nine years of probation, allowing him to serve less than seven months of his sentence.
Arapahoe County Sheriff’s investigations Sergeant Brett Cohn expressed disappointment in the sentencing, stating, “We do not believe that the victims got the justice for the crime that was committed against them.” The Chief Communications Officer for the cash transport business echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the judicial system had failed to deliver appropriate consequences for Aguilar’s actions.
The robbery left a lasting psychological impact on the victim, who reported experiencing panic attacks and paranoia since the incident. She is currently undergoing therapy and has taken additional security measures at her home, expressing concerns that Aguilar’s relatively lenient sentence might lead to future escalation of his behavior.
Once a celebrated athlete, Aguilar was known for his football prowess at Mullen High School, where he led the team to three consecutive state title appearances. He later played as a wide receiver for the Washington Huskies from 2008 to 2011, earning recognition in the university’s record books. Aguilar’s brief NFL career included a stint with the Tennessee Titans in 2012, but details of his legal troubles came as a surprise to many of his former teammates and coaches.
At his sentencing, Aguilar expressed remorse for his actions, stating, “I’m taking full accountability. I was ashamed, but I’m no longer ashamed for accountability has been taken … I’m ready for another opportunity.”