ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – 43-year-old Nelson Deras-Pineda, an illegal immigrant from Honduras, was sentenced to federal prison, the Department of Justice announced on Monday, November 24, 2025.
Deras-Pineda was sentenced to eight months in federal prison for “illegal reentry by a previously removed alien.”
Prosecutors say Deras-Pineda has a history of driving under the influence and fleeing the scenes of traffic accidents, as well as entering the United States without authorization.
According to court documents, Deras-Pineda was arrested in June 2025 by the Roanoke Police Department on felony DUI charges. This was his third DUI arrest in the last 10 years, according to prosecutors.
Officers contacted Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington to conduct an “Immigration Alien Query.” At the time, it was revealed that Deras-Pineda was in the U.S. illegally.
He previously entered the country in January 2003 and May 2006, where he was removed each time, said the DOJ.
Deras-Pineda again reentered the U.S., illegally and without authorization, at an unknown date following his removal in 2006, court docs mentioned.
“The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia will work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to hold accountable those individuals who flout the immigration laws of the United States,” Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said.
United States I.C.E. and Homeland Security Investigations assisted with the investigation.
43-year-old Nelson Deras-Pineda was sentenced according to an announcement from the DOJ on Monday, November 24, 2025.(Roanoke Police Department)
Copyright 2025 WDBJ. All rights reserved.