A Roma man was ordered to serve six years in federal prison for a dangerous crash that flung two people 50 feet in the air with one suffering a traumatic brain injury.
According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane sentenced Orlando Gonzalez, 22, to six years in prison followed by three years of supervised release after the court found his actions to be a danger to the community.
The court noted that Gonzalez led authorities on a 100 mph chase that resulted in two of the three passengers being flung 50 feet in the air and causing one to suffer a traumatic brain injury that placed them on life support.
On May 20, law enforcement learned that several illegally present people had boarded a blue GMC driven by Gonzalez near Fronton. As authorities arrived on the scene, he began to drive at a high rate of speed, veering on and off the main roadway while striking a law enforcement vehicle in the process.
Gonzalez eventually hit a utility pole, which caused the GMC to roll over multiple times and stop in a local church parking lot. That’s where the two passengers were flung 50 feet into the air.
According to the release, Gonzalez was on supervised release from a prior human trafficking conviction.
Gonzalez pleaded guilty on Aug. 1 to conspiracy to transport people illegally present in the United States, which resulted in serious bodily injury.
He is currently in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility which will be determined in the near future.
“This sentence serves as an appropriate punishment for Gonzalez’ role in the smuggling event that caused a rollover accident resulting in serious bodily injuries,” Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee said. “HSI will continue to address the serious public safety threats posed by human smuggling organizations and their reckless disregard for the health and safety of the people they exploit.”
