An illegal alien who had previously been deported twice and convicted seven times of driving while intoxicated has been sentenced to 74 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States.
Fernando Salvador Perez-Morales, 46, was sentenced September 23 by U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.
Federal prosecutors announced the sentence September 29.
Perez-Morales was indicted in November 2025 for illegally reentering the United States and pleaded guilty in March.
According to court records cited by prosecutors, Perez-Morales was convicted seven times of driving while intoxicated between 2009 and 2025. Two of those convictions involved hit-and-run crashes.
“Individuals who repeatedly violate our immigration laws and endanger our communities by driving drunk—especially after multiple removals—are not welcome in the United States,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said in the Justice Department announcement.
Raybould said Perez-Morales continued to return illegally to the United States and put North Texans at risk.
“With seven DWI convictions, including hit and run crashes, Perez-Morales continued to illegally return and put North Texans at risk,” Raybould said.
Removed Twice Before Latest Arrest
Federal authorities said Perez-Morales was removed from the United States in 2013 and again in 2020.
He later returned and was apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in August 2025 after his seventh DWI conviction, according to the Northern District of Texas.
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office Director Miguel Vergara said Perez-Morales repeatedly violated immigration and criminal laws.
“After violating our nation’s laws to illegally re-enter the country three times, this criminal alien repeatedly put the lives of innocent Americans in jeopardy by driving while he was intoxicated on seven different occasions, fleeing the scene twice,” Vergara said.
Federal officials said Perez-Morales will be removed from the United States again after completing his 74-month prison sentence.
ICE Dallas Led Investigation
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marbel Leonel Munoz and Eric Bales of the Northern District of Texas Major Crimes Section prosecuted the case.
Perez-Morales’ 74-month sentence is for the federal offense of illegal reentry. His prior DWI convictions are part of the criminal history described by prosecutors but are separate from the federal offense for which he was sentenced.
Provided by Dallas Express
