South Bend Man re-sentenced to 43 years in prison

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – 30-year-old Derek Fields of South Bend was re-sentenced to 43 years in prison after his previous sentence was vacated by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Fields was originally sentenced to 516 months in prison back in November of 2016. He was convicted of kidnapping, extortion, felon in possession and using a firearm in a crime of violence.

The court ordered Fields to pay $193,384.98 for lost wages of the victim and medical expenses.

“Crimes of violence, like those committed by Fields, will not be tolerated. As a result of Fields’ conduct, an individual suffered permanent injury. Crime is not victimless. Crime victims deserve to be protected from criminals like Fields, and I am grateful to the law enforcement agents and officers in bringing Fields to justice,” U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch said.

Fields unlawfully kidnapped a male individual in an attempt to extort a ransom from the victim’s family.

During the incident, the victim was shot, causing them permanent injuries.