A A man from Texas will spend years in federal prison after being found guilty of organizing a human smuggling scheme involving thousands of illegal immigrants.
Isai Orona, 35, who also goes by “Panda,” was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for conspiracy to smuggle and smuggle immigrants, according to the Attorney General's Office of the US Western District of Texas on Wednesday.
A Texas man was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to smuggle immigrants and transporting immigrants, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas. (iStock)
Court documents indicated that Orona was notified of the WhatsApp contacts as the organizer of the smuggling scheme.
He agreed to bring more than 2,500 illegal immigrants into the US in 2023 within six months, most of whom were taken to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Isai Orona, aka “Panda,” admitted to bringing more than 2,500 illegal immigrants into the US. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
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He also said he has a network of drivers who have helped him smuggle illegal immigrants at least 12 vehicles. When US Border Patrol agents arrested a fellow deputy for transporting nine illegal immigrants to El Paso, they discovered that the vehicle used was registered to Orona.
His co-producer Isai Orona was arrested for trafficking nine illegal immigrants in El Paso, Texas.
He was arrested on November 20, 2023, and pleaded guilty to the above crimes on July 12, 2024.
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In addition to the four and a half years he will spend in prison, the court also entered a money judgment against Orona for $250,000.