Queens Armored Truck Driver Caught Stealing $1.8M Money Bag: DA

LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS -- An armored truck driver hired to safeguard millions of dollars from thieves ended up being the alleged thief when he tried to steal a bag with $1.6 million from the truck in Long Island City, prosecutors said.

Riguerson Avril, 37, of Howard Beach, was arrested and charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property after he was allegedly caught on camera taking the cash-filled bag from a pallet and kicking it underneath the delivery truck Monday night, said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

“The defendant allegedly took advantage of his access to enrich himself," Brown said. "He returned to work the following day as if nothing was amiss."

Avril was taken into custody when he showed up to work the next day and admitted that after he was caught on video shoving the bag under the truck near Vernon Boulevard and 45th Street, he took it to the cab and covered it with a rain jacket, prosecutors said.

"I moved the money off the top, dropped it and kicked it under the truck," he allegedly told investigators. "I wanted to see if anyone would notice."

Avril told police he then ribbed the money bag and put the $1.6 million into a suitcase, which he had a friend hold onto, according to the charges.

Police recovered all but $10,000 of the stolen cash in Philadelphia.

Avril was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Wednesday and released under supervision, court records show. He’s scheduled to return to court on Aug. 21.

If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.

Lead photo via Shutterstock