Euless man sentenced to 7 years in human smuggling operation, federal prosecutor says
A North Texas man has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for his role in a human smuggling operation, prosecutors said Monday.
Oland Maurice McKenzie, 43, of Euless, was pulled over in Maverick County near the Texas-Mexico border while driving an semitractor-trailer in June 2023, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Texas.
Upon inspection, officers found that McKenzie was not licensed to drive the 18-wheeler and that the truck’s grain hopper trailer contained 18 people.
The trailer was an enclosed cylinder, similar to what is used to transport sand or powdered concrete, authorities said.
McKenzie was charged “with one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens placing lives in jeopardy and one count of illegal alien transportation placing lives in jeopardy,” according to the news release.
“The disruption by law enforcement on the front end of this event absolutely saved lives,” said acting U.S. attorney Margaret Leachman. “Fortunately, there were no injuries beyond heat exhaustion but, if not for our law enforcement partners, this event could have ended much worse — potentially resulting in death.”
