Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty To His Role In Interstate Marijuana Trafficking Operation

CONTACT: Barbara Burns        
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BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Vincent Lopresti, 26, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. The charge carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that between 2016, and June 2019, Lopresti received marijuana from the Robert Fiels drug organization, distributed and helped distribute the marijuana, concealed the marijuana and stored it until he could sell it, and by his actions helped the marijuana distribution conspiracy to continue. Lopresti failed to notify the Department of Justice and Homeland Security Investigations of the criminal conduct. 

Robert Fiels was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 1, 2022, before Judge Vilardo. 

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