Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on June 7, 2024, John Vincentini, 64, of Lacey Township, pled guilty to Bias Intimidation before the Honorable Kenneth T. Palmer, J.S.C., in connection with an incident that occurred in Lacey Township on September 5, 2022. Additionally, Vincentini pled 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 that occurred in Lacey Township in March 2024. At the time of his sentencing on July29, 2024, the State will be seeking a term of five years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) as to the bias intimidation charge, five years NJSP with a 42 month period of parole ineligibility as to the assault firearm charge, and three years NJSP as to the narcotics charge. The sentences are to run concurrently.
An investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Bias Crime Unit and Lacey Township Police Department Detective Bureau determined that on September 5, 2022, Vincentini was operating a motor vehicle in Lacey Township and followed an Amazon delivery driver into a cul-de-sac as the driver was making deliveries; Vincentini parked his vehicle in such a way as to block the Amazon driver’s vehicle. Vincentini proceeded to confront the driver, questioned the driver as to why he was in the neighborhood, and further inquired as to whether the driver understood that it was a racist neighborhood. Vincentini then asked the driver whether he wanted him to go back to his car, get his rifle, and shoot the driver in the head. The Amazon driver then drove away and contacted the Lacey Township Police Department. On October 5, 2022, Vincentini surrendered himself to the Lacey Township Police Department and was charged with bias intimidation. He was processed and released on a 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 was delivered to their residence in a re-purposed Amazon box. An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and Lacey Township Police Department revealed that John Vincentini was the individual who delivered the box containing the marijuana to the subject residence.
On March 21, 2024, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and Lacey Township Police Department executed a court-authorized search warrant on 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 United States Currency. John Vincentini and Karen Vincentini, John Vincentini’s wife, were both taken into custody without incident at their residence and charged accordingly. They were transported to the Ocean County Jail, where they have been lodged since their arrest. The charges against Karen Vincentini remain pending.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges 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 Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Bias Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office 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 connection with these investigations – leading to Vincentini’s guilty pleas and soon his state prison sentence.