WACO, TEXAS — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)), published as received.
WACO, Texas – A Killeen woman pleaded guilty today to charges in connection with the disappearance of U.S. Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen.
Cecily Aguilar, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of accessory to murder after the fact and three counts of false statement or representation. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Aguilar faces a maximum possible penalty of 30 years in prison plus three years of supervised release and a $1 million fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents, from April 22, 2020 through July 1, 2020, Aguilar assisted Army Specialist Aaron Robinson in corruptly altering, destroying, mutilating and concealing evidence—that is, the body of Vanessa Guillen—in order to prevent Robinson from being charged with and prosecuted for any crime. Aguilar also altered and destroyed information contained in a Google account of Robinson. During the investigation into the disappearance of Vanessa Guillen, Aguilar made four materially false statements to federal investigators.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and FBI Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. made the announcement.
The FBI; U.S. Marshals Service; Texas Rangers; Bell County Sheriff’s Office; Killeen Police Department; Texas Parks and Wildlife; and U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Frazier and Greg Gloff are prosecuting the case.
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