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5 arrested in Dallas cargo theft ring bust

In a major crackdown on organized cargo theft, Dallas police arrested five men on November 1, 2025, dismantling a theft ring responsible for stealing approximately $1 million in merchandise across the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 2022.

Authorities recovered the stolen goods from a repair shop in the 5200 block of University Hills Boulevard in northeast Dallas.

The investigation began when officers spotted a semitruck pulling a stolen trailer into the shop. They confirmed the trailer had been reported stolen by the Benbrook Police Department, leading to immediate detentions and a search warrant.

Arrested suspects:

Johnny Veail, 39, the shop owner, charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Abdullah Majeed, 39, and Mohammad Husainy, 37, both facing theft of property valued at $300,000 or more.

Anthony Walker, 54, charged with high-value theft.

Justin Kenney, 37, who faces the same theft charge plus an unrelated Benbrook warrant for theft under $150,000.

Police linked the group to at least 10 cargo thefts over three years, primarily targeting trailers loaded with tires and rims, though other items were involved. Recovered property included 795 tires, 600 aluminum rims, a trailer, a motorcycle, an ATV, a car engine, appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners, cases of motor oil, and $32,553 in cash.

The repair shop allegedly served as the central storage and distribution hub for the stolen goods.

The case highlights ongoing challenges with cargo theft in North Texas, where organized rings exploit trucking routes and commercial hubs. All suspects face serious felony charges, with the investigation involving collaboration between Dallas and Benbrook police departments.

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Courts won’t let the FMCSA enforce rules against non-domiciled CDLs

(Photo: Jim Allen / FreightWaves)

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are gearing up for a protracted court battle over a controversial September 2025 interim final rule restricting non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs).

A non-domiciled CDL is issued by states to drivers whose primary residence is in a foreign country, allowing certain non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents with valid work authorization to operate commercial vehicles in the United States.

The rule, announced by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in late September 2025 and effective immediately, declared the widespread improper issuance of these licenses a "national emergency" threatening highway safety. It eliminated the use of an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) alone as sufficient proof of eligibility and explicitly bars asylum seekers, asylees, refugees, and DACA recipients from obtaining or renewing non-domiciled CDLs or commercial learner’s permits (CLPs). Only foreign drivers with specific employment-based visas and verified temporary or indefinite legal presence now qualify.

FMCSA’s 2025 audits uncovered systemic violations in multiple states, including California (where ~25% of non-domiciled CDLs were improperly issued), Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington. The agency cited several fatal 2025 crashes involving non-domiciled CDL holders and warned that lax practices allowed unqualified or unauthorized drivers on U.S. roads. The rule was projected to disqualify approximately 194,000 existing non-domiciled CDL holders, dramatically shrinking the pool of eligible foreign truck drivers.

The rule bypassed normal notice-and-comment rulemaking under the "good cause" exception, prompting swift legal backlash. Petitioners, including affected drivers and advocacy groups, sued in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, arguing the agency lacked justification for emergency action, violated the Administrative Procedure Act, exceeded its authority, and failed to consult states.

On November 10, 2025, the court issued an administrative stay, followed by a full emergency stay on November 13, halting enforcement pending review. States may continue issuing non-domiciled CDLs under pre-rule guidance for now.

Secretary Duffy sharply criticized the stays, stating the DOT is "not going to take this lying down" and is developing aggressive legal strategies to defend the rule. He emphasized public safety risks, noting, saying, "People are dying," and dismissed calls for more data as out of touch with visible dangers. FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs vowed tougher enforcement against non-compliant carriers and states.

Supporters, including the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), praised the restrictions and urged Congress to pass legislation like Rep. David Rouzer’s Non-Domiciled CDL Integrity Act to make them permanent. Critics warn of potential driver shortages and economic disruption in trucking.

As of November 19, 2025, oral arguments are pending, with the case highlighting tensions between highway safety, immigration policy, and administrative process.