Irishman facing 30 years in prison in US accused of running people smuggling operation

BORDER BANDIT | William O’Reilly, who was arrested in California two weeks ago, is wanted in Massachusetts where he is charged with bringing illegal immigrants into the country AJ Oshier smuggled these peopleAn Irishman is facing 30 years in prison in the United States where he is accused of running a people smuggling operation.William O’Reilly, who was arrested in California two weeks ago, is wanted in Massachusetts where he is charged with bringing illegal immigrants into the country.The case is connected to one previously highlighted by the Sunday World in which a co-conspirator pleaded guilty after reaching a deal with the authorities.AJ Oshier was found to be working for an organiser whose number he had saved on his phone as Elevated Siding and Roofing.The Californian court documents show that O’Reilly’s last known employment was with a firm of the same name.They also state: “The investigation has determined, after interviews with additional co-conspirators and reviews of additional cellular phones, that O’Reilly was acting in a leadership role of an alien smuggling enterprise spanning the United States and Canada.”The 23-year-old, who is stated to have been born in ‘County Cork’ Ireland, was arrested on April 28 in northern California and is being held in a jail in the Bay Area. He had been living in Charleston, Massachusetts.The charges against O’Reilly were filed on March 18 in the New York Northern District federal court, accusing O’Reilly of smuggling people into the US.Since then, Oshier has pleaded guilty to four counts of people smuggling and conspiracy which carried a minimum mandatory five-year sentence.Oshier was part of a criminal gang that “smuggled between 25 and 99 aliens” during October and November 2024.One Irish citizen caught by border patrol agents near the border in New York state told officers he had paid Can$3,500 (€2,200) to get into the US from Canada.After his initial arrest, Oshier refused to name the person referred to in court documents as ‘Co-conspirator 1’ but was listed on his phone as “Elevated Siding and Roofing.”Under the plea agreement filed in March, prosecutors agreed not to bring further federal charges against him from this investigation.In return, Oshier loses his right to appeal against any sentence that is five years or less. He is now due for sentence in July after a pre-sentence report has been made available to the court.Oshier told arresting officers he had been involved in smuggling “Irish people” after being approached in October 2024. He also said he believed some of the “Irish” were involved with criminal activity and most went to New York City.News in 90 Seconds - May 14th

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