The getaway driver in the Soboba Casino heist was sentenced to 12 years in prison Friday for his role in stealing $1.5 million from the casino vault in 2005.

Eric Aguilera, 25, was given credit for the past two years he's spent in jail at the Southwest Detention Center. A jury convicted Aguilera in July of seven robbery charges but deadlocked on two key kidnapping-for-robbery charges that could have drawn a life sentence.

Aguilera was also convicted of a special enhancement of taking more than $1 million and one count each of burglary and false imprisonment charges. He was acquitted of a third count of kidnapping for robbery.

The plot for the heist was orchestrated by Rolando Ramos, who was sentenced last month to 16 years on robbery charges.

Ramos' attorney said the plan was modeled after the movie, "Ocean's 11" when both men worked as surveillance technicians at the Soboba Indian Casino outside San Jacinto. Aguilera drove around the casino while Ramos tied up three surveillance guards and robbed the vault.

The two men drove to a motel in Palm Springs to split the money. Aguilera drove Ramos to San Bernardino and was arrested the next day when he confessed after police found $500,000 at his mother's house in Hemet.

Ramos was arrested two days later at a hotel near Los Angeles International Airport with $800,000. Nearly all of the money was returned to the casino.

Reach John Asbury at 951-763-3451 or jasbury@PE.com