Lacey Township man pleads guilty to bias intimidation, drug and weapons offenses – MidJersey.News

June 7, 2024

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on June 7, 2024, John Vincentini, 64, of Lacey Township, pleaded guilty to biased intimidation before the Honorable Kenneth T. Palmer, JSC, in connection with an incident that occurred in Lacey Township on September 5, 2022. Additionally, Vincentini pleaded guilty to unrelated charges of possession of an assault firearm and possession of more than one ounce but less than five pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute before Judge Palmer – in connection with incidents in Lacey Township. in March 2024. At his sentencing on July 29, 2024, the State will seek a sentence of five years in the New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) on the partisan intimidation charge, five years from NJSP with a period of parole ineligibility of 42 months. as to the assault firearm charge, and three years NJSP as to the narcotics charge. The sentences must be served concurrently.

An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Bias Crimes Unit and the Lacey Township Police Department Detective Bureau determined that on September 5, 2022, Vincentini was operating a motor vehicle in the township of Lacey and followed an Amazon delivery driver into a dead end while the driver was making deliveries; Vincentini parked his vehicle in a way that blocked the Amazon driver's vehicle. Vincentini then confronted the driver, asked why he was in the neighborhood, and further asked if the driver understood that it was a racist neighborhood. Vincentini then asked the driver if he wanted him to go back to his car, get his rifle and shoot him in the head. The Amazon driver then left and contacted the Lacey Township Police Department. On October 5, 2022, Vincentini turned himself in to the Lacey Township Police Department and was charged with bias intimidation. He was arraigned and released on summons pending future appearances in Ocean County Superior Court.

On March 15, 2024, the Lacey Township Police Department was contacted by local residents to report that a package of marijuana had been delivered to their residence in a repurposed Amazon box. An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Narcotics Strike Force and the Lacey Township Police Department revealed that John Vincentini was the individual who delivered the box containing the marijuana to the residence in question.

On March 21, 2024, detectives from the Narcotics Strike Force of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and the Lacey Township Police Department executed a court-authorized search warrant at the Vincentini residence in Lacey. As a result, detectives seized approximately ten pounds of marijuana, 15 marijuana plants, drug paraphernalia associated with the packaging and distribution of narcotics, two assault firearms, a rifle-style BB gun and approximately $150,000 in U.S. currency. John Vincentini and Karen Vincentini, John Vincentini's wife, were both arrested without incident at their home and charged accordingly. They were transported to the Ocean County Jail, where they have been held since their arrest. Charges against Karen Vincentini remain pending.

Prosecutor Billhimer recognizes the diligent efforts of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Ashley Angelo and Assistant Prosecutor Julie Peterson who handled this case on behalf of the State, and commends the Bias Crimes Unit of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office , the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Narcotics Strike Force and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. The Asset Forfeiture Unit, Lacey Township Police Department, Lacey Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and Ocean County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit , for their collective efforts in these investigations – which led to Vincentini's guilty pleas and soon his state prison sentence.

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