Juan Carlos Ruiz-Agustin, 33, faced legal consequences following his arrest by the Foley Police Department on January 24, 2025, for driving under the influence. Suspecting that he was not a U.S. citizen, the Foley police reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE's investigation revealed that Ruiz-Agustin had been deported from the United States twice in 2012, as well as in 2013 and 2015. Moreover, he had prior convictions for Illegal Entry in 2012 and Illegal Reentry in 2015.
During the sentencing, Chief Judge Beaverstock sentenced Ruiz-Agustin to time served and imposed a one-year term of supervised release upon his eventual release. Ruiz-Agustin, who has been in custody since his arrest, will face deportation proceedings involving immigration officials. Additionally, a $100 special assessment fee was levied against him.
The announcement came from U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama. The investigation was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Foley Police Department. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide effort by the Department of Justice to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime.