Former CFL player Aaron Wagner pleads guilty to financial crimes

Photo: Aaron Wagner/Instagram (@aaronwags)

Former CFL player Aaron Wagner is expected to serve 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to various financial crimes in Utah.

On August, 26, the native of Cranbrook, B.C. submitted a plea deal in which he admitted to committing conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and bank fraud. The agreement includes a prison sentence of 120 months.

In 2024, the District of Utah U.S. Attorney’s Office issued a press release announcing that Wagner and his business partner, Michael Mains, had been indicted on 16 charges of various financial crimes, including wire fraud and money laundering.

It was alleged that starting in 2021, Wagner and Mains fraudulently led investors to send millions of dollars to business entities the two men controlled through an LLC. Wagner told lenders that funds were intended for restaurant development, though he used them for personal expenses or investments.

The scheme elicited more than $40 million from investors. Wagner and Mains made several purchases, including a $4 million home in Scottsdale, Ariz., an $8 million personal airplane, a $4.5 million commercial property, and an $8 million real estate property in Missoula, Mon.

The 44-year-old was a second-round pick in the 2006 CFL Draft by the Toronto Argonauts. He played 33 career regular-season games with the Argonauts and Saskatchewan Roughriders, recording 36 total tackles, three kickoff returns for 24 yards, and one fumble recovery.

The six-foot-two, 248-pounder played collegiately at Washington State University and Brigham Young University. Over 30 career games, he recorded 90 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, three pass knockdowns, and two interceptions.

Wagner has over 200,000 followers on Instagram, and is a self-described “investor” and “justice advocate.”