A Salvadoran national was detained by immigration enforcement agents after being arrested for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree, an unclassified misdemeanor, less than two weeks after his fourth felony DWI conviction.
Following the jury trial conviction, Pablo Aguilar-Alvarez was released by the court pending sentencing, despite the Suffolk County District Attorney’s request for remand, and explicitly barred from driving. The defendant waAs deported in 2024 following his third DWI conviction and is currently in the U.S. illegally.
“It is self-evident that given his history of multiple felony convictions, Pablo Aguilar-Alvarez is a clear and present danger to any Suffolk County citizen traveling on our roads,” said DA Ray Tierney. “He is a repeat felony drunk driver who does not belong behind the wheel. Less than two weeks after his fourth felony DWI conviction, and despite explicit instructions not to drive, the defendant once again got behind the wheel of a vehicle. I want to thank my Detective Investigators for apprehending the defendant. I extend my gratitude to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for their swift action in taking this individual into custody and working with my office to help protect Suffolk County residents.”
Aguilar-Alvarez was found guilty on August 7, 2026, of driving recklessly in Southampton with a blood alcohol content of more than twice the legal limit. The conviction marked the defendant’s fourth DWI felony conviction within the past 10 years, in addition to a prior misdemeanor DWI conviction.
Following the conviction, the DA’s office requested that the court hold Aguilar-Alvarez until sentencing due to his history of disobeying the law and because the office had reason to believe he would flee the country. Despite the request, the court ordered Aguilar-Alvarez to be released pending sentencing, scheduled for October 2, 2026. The defendant, whose license had been revoked, was barred from driving while awaiting sentencing.
On August 17, 2026, detective investigators from the DA’s office initiated a traffic stop of Aguilar-Alvarez’ vehicle in the vicinity of Main Street in Riverhead. As alleged, the defendant was found to be driving without a valid license and taken in for processing. A summons was issued for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree.
After consulting with the DA’s office, federal immigration authorities detained Aguilar-Alvarez as he was leaving the office following the processing of his most recent arrest. The DA’s office will file a writ to bring Aguilar-Alvarez back to Suffolk County for sentencing on his felony conviction and for the summons.