Drunk driver begins prison sentence

Ivanna Villanueva's plea deal requires her to serve three years in prison

MIAMI – A woman who pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter in the death of a 68-year-old grandmother began her prison sentence Wednesday.

Ivanna Villanueva returned to court to retake a drug test. She tested positive for amphetamines, which her lawyer proved was from prescribed medication she takes for ADHD.

The judge moved forward with the sentence -- three years in prison as a youthful offender followed by 15 years probation -- per her plea deal.

Villanueva, 20, was supposed to start her prison sentence Tuesday, but it was postponed because of her positive drug test.

"The only reason that would have affected her sentence is because it would've been a violation had she been taking illegal drugs," said Jorge Hernandez-Torano, Villanueva's attorney.

Villanueva accepted a plea deal in the October 2011 death of Eyder Ayala. According to police, Villanueva was driving drunk when she slammed her car into Ayala's vehicle at the intersection of LeJuene Road and Majorca Avenue in Coral Gables, killing Ayala.

Villanueva was also ordered to donate to Mothers Against Drunk Driving on Oct. 2, the anniversary of the crash, in the amount equal to how old Ayala would have been that year.

"We just miss our grandmother very much. It's a sad day for both families," said Bernadette Sadeek.