img

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

A Texas man who admitted to smuggling thousands of illegal immigrants into the United States over a six-month period has been sentenced to federal prison.

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.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Sign in to comment

Comments

Powered by The Post Millennial CMS™ Comments

Join and support independent free thinkers!

We’re independent and can’t be cancelled. The establishment media is increasingly dedicated to divisive cancel culture, corporate wokeism, and political correctness, all while covering up corruption from the corridors of power. The need for fact-based journalism and thoughtful analysis has never been greater. When you support The Post Millennial, you support freedom of the press at a time when it's under direct attack. Join the ranks of independent, free thinkers by supporting us today for as little as $1.

Support The Post Millennial

Remind me next month

To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
ADVERTISEMENT
© 2025 The Post Millennial, Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell My Personal Information