Oregon Man Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Supplying More Than a Ton of Marijuana to New York Ring

Oregon man, Robert Fiels (38) of City Falls, was sentenced yesterday to five years and 10 months in federal prison for supplying more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and marijuana products for distribution across Western New York.

According to U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, Fiels was the source of supply for three co-defendants – Syed Ahmad, the delivery man, Frank Vacanti, a distributor, and Vincent Lopresti, who sold the product across western New York. All three co-defendants were previously convicted and sentenced.

Court Documents Reveal a Long History of Dealing in Marijuana

Sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo, court documents show that Fiels has an extensive record for trafficking in marijuana, including trafficking 1,800 lbs of marijuana to one individual between 2016 and 2019.

In 2017, Fiels was stopped by DEA-Chicago and Amtrak Police while traveling from Buffalo, NY, to Chicago, Illinois. After questioning and providing consent, DEA-Chicago seized $222,965 in drug proceeds found in suitcases belonging to Fiels.

On December 31, 2017, law enforcement from Morgan County, Illinois, and the DEA, recovered 1,000 lbs of marijuana from an RV driven by co-defendant Syed Ahmad and another individual. The marijuana belonged to Fiels and was destined for locations around the U.S.

On January 18, 2018, Fiels was stopped for exceeding the speed limit by law enforcement from Hobart, Indiana. During a search of the vehicle, officers seized $48,000 in drug proceeds..

Back home in Oregon, Springfield law enforcement seized $15,000 in drug proceeds sent to Fiels via USPS on February 10, 2020.

On June 29, 2020, Oregon law enforcement officers executed search warrants at three locations associated with Fiels – his residence, a work apartment, and the residence of his former girlfriend – where officers recovered marijuana, marijuana-based products, USPS parcels, drug paraphernalia, packing materials, scales, psychedelic mushrooms, two firearms, and liquid steroids.