Oregon man sentenced in NY for trafficking marijuana

An Oregon man will spend almost six years in federal prison for trafficking marijuana.

Robert Fiels, 38, of City Falls, Oregon, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana.

He has been sentenced to 70 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.

Fiels was the source of supply for individuals that trafficked marijuana and marijuana-based products across the country, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Between late 2016, and June 2019, Fiels trafficked about 1,800 pounds of marijuana to one individual, prosecutors said.

In January 2017, Fiels was stopped by DEA agents and Amtrak Police while traveling from Buffalo to Chicago. After questioning and providing consent, $222,965.00 in drug proceeds was seized from Fiel’s suitcases, prosecutors said.

On Dec. 31, 2017, in Morgan County, Illinois, local law enforcement and the DEA, seized about 1,000 pounds 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 United States, prosecutors said.

On Jan. 18, 2018, Fiels was stopped in a vehicle for speeding in Hobart, Indiana, by local law enforcement. During a search of his vehicle, $48,000 in drug proceeds was seized, prosecutors said.

On Feb. 10, 2020, law enforcement in Springfield, Oregon, seized about $15,000 in drug proceeds sent to the defendant via the United Starts Postal Service, prosecutors said.

On June 29, 2020, law enforcement executed search warrants at three locations in Oregon and found marijuana, marijuana-based products, USPS parcels, drug paraphernalia, packing materials, scales, psychedelic mushrooms, two firearms, and liquid steroids, prosecutors said.

Codefendants Syed Ahmad, Frank Vacanti, and Vincent Lopresti were previously convicted and sentenced.