An Oregon man, Robert Fiels, 38, from City Falls, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for his role in a nationwide marijuana trafficking operation. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo following Fiels’ conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, Fiels acted as the main supplier for a group that trafficked marijuana and related products across the United States. He coordinated deliveries through several individuals, including co-defendant Syed Ahmad and others. Once delivered, the drugs were distributed by people such as Frank Vacanti to individuals like Vincent Lopresti who then sold them throughout Western New York. Between late 2016 and June 2019, it is estimated that Fiels supplied approximately 1,800 pounds of marijuana to one individual.
Fiels’ activities drew law enforcement attention on multiple occasions. In January 2017, he was stopped by DEA-Chicago agents and Amtrak Police while traveling from Buffalo to Chicago. After questioning and giving consent for a search, authorities seized $222,965 in drug proceeds from his suitcases. Later that year on December 31 in Morgan County, Illinois, local police along with the DEA recovered about 1,000 pounds of marijuana from an RV driven by Syed Ahmad; this shipment belonged to Fiels and was intended for distribution around the country.
Further incidents included a traffic stop in Hobart, Indiana on January 18, 2018 where police found $48,000 in drug proceeds during a vehicle search. On February 10, 2020 in Springfield, Oregon authorities intercepted about $15,000 sent via USPS as drug proceeds destined for Fiels.
Law enforcement executed search warrants at three locations linked to Fiels in Oregon on June 29, 2020: his home residence, work apartment and his former girlfriend’s residence. During these searches they recovered marijuana products along with USPS parcels used for shipping drugs, drug paraphernalia such as packing materials and scales; additionally they found psychedelic mushrooms, two firearms and liquid steroids.
Co-defendants Syed Ahmad, Frank Vacanti and Vincent Lopresti have all previously been convicted and sentenced for their roles in the case.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including Homeland Security Investigations offices in Buffalo; Portland; Springfield (Illinois); Illinois State Police; Oregon State Police; Morgan County Sheriff’s Office (Illinois); Hobart Police Department (Indiana); and Springfield Police Department (Oregon).
