High speed rollover lands Texan in federal prison following HSI McAllen, federal partner investigation

MCALLEN, Texas – A South Texas man was sentenced to six years in federal prison following his conviction of conspiracy to transport noncitizens resulting in serious bodily injury. The investigation was worked by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) along with U.S. Border Patrol, RGV Sector and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

Orlando Gonzalez, 22, from Roma, was sentenced Jan. 4, to 72 months in federal prison followed by three years supervised release. The court found Gonzalez’s actions to be a danger to the community, noting he led law enforcement agents on a 100-mph high speed chase which resulted in a tragic rollover. Several individuals suffered life altering injuries. Gonzalez pleaded guilty Aug. 1, 2022.

According to court documents, on May 20, 2022, law enforcement learned that several noncitizens had entered a blue GMC near Fronton, Texas. As authorities arrived on scene, Gonzalez began to drive the vehicle at a high rate of speed veering on and off the main roadway. In that process, he struck one of the responding law enforcement vehicles. Gonzalez continued to drive at a high rate of speed until he struck a utility pole which caused the vehicle to roll over multiple times, coming to rest in a local church parking lot. Two of the three of the noncitizens who were in the vehicle were ejected approximately 50ft in the air. One suffered a traumatic brain injury and was placed on life support.

At the time of the incident, Gonzalez was on supervised release from a 2020 human trafficking conviction.

Gonzalez remains in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric D. Flores, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted the case.

For additional information about HSI’s investigative efforts, follow @HSI_SanAntonio.

HSI San Antonio continues to address the serious public safety threat posed by human smuggling organizations and their reckless disregard for the health and safety of the people they exploit. To report suspicious smuggling activity, you are urged to call 1-866-348-2423.

HSI is a directorate of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the principal investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 6,800 special agents assigned to 225 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.