Texas man sentenced to federal prison for smuggling over 2,500 illegal immigrants in just six months

35-year-old Isai Orona, also known by the nickname “Panda,” received a 54-month prison sentence for conspiracy to transport and transport illegal immigrants. Court documents, cited in a report by Fox News, revealed that Orona coordinated a smuggling operation that brought more than 2,500 illegal immigrants into the US during a six-month period in 2023. Many of the individuals were transported to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Orona used WhatsApp to organize the operation and managed a network of drivers who utilized at least a dozen vehicles to carry out the smuggling efforts. Border Patrol agents discovered a vehicle registered to Orona after arresting a co-conspirator in El Paso, Texas, who was caught transporting nine illegal immigrants.

Orona was arrested in November 2023 and pleaded guilty to the charges in July 2024. In addition to his prison sentence, the court entered a money judgment against him for $250,000.

The charges are a result of an investigation by the US Border Patrol with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Watts and Patricia Acosta.

The arrest comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s inauguration and his immediate efforts to crack down on border security. As he was taking office, the El Paso port of entry was temporarily closed. The CBP One application was also shut down shortly after Trump took office. The president has since declared the situation at the southern border a national emergency and has deployed thousands of troops in an effort to crack down on human and drug smuggling.