Brick Man Convicted On 2018 Drug Charges Captured In Mexico

BRICK, NJ — A Brick Township man who had been on the lam since 2019 and convicted in 2025 of growing marijuana in an illegal grow facility for distribution has been arrested in Mexico and brought back to New Jersey to be sentenced, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Jason A. Bacon, 43, was tried and convicted in absentia before Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan of charges from an investigation that began in December 2017 into a large greenhouse in Clayton, Gloucester County, that had been built behind a vacant house on Delsea Drive, authorities said.

Investigators found the property was using large amounts of water and electricity and had received large freight deliveries of material associated with illegally growing marijuana, and that it was owned by Bacon, who lived in Brick, the prosecutor's office said.

Search warrants executed on April 26, 2018, at both properties led to the seizure of more than 25 pounds of marijuana, more than 5 pounds of hashish and hashish products, marijuana plants, paraphernalia associated with the cultivation of marijuana, and a loaded .25-caliber handgun, authorities said.

Bacon was arrested at the Brick Township home and taken to the Ocean County Jail. He was initially ordered detained but subsequently ordered to be released in April 2019 as a consequence of New Jersey bail reform, the prosecutor's office said. Read more: Ocean County Pair Charged With Marijuana Manufacture: Prosecutor

Investigators reviewing Bacon’s bank records learned he had deposited in excess of $400,000 from illegal narcotics sales into his bank account between 2013 and 2018 and never paid income tax on the money, prosecutors said.

Bacon failed to show up for his trial when it started Jan. 14, 2025, before Ryan and was convicted on Jan. 30, 2025 of two counts of maintaining a controlled dangerous substance facility, possession of more than 25 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of more than 5 pounds of hashish with intent to distribute, possession of more than 5 pounds but less than 25 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of more than 50 grams of marijuana, possession of more than 5 grams of hashish, possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm during a controlled dangerous substance offense, financial facilitation, and four counts of failure to file income tax returns and pay income tax, the prosecutor's office said.

Bacon was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Mexico. The prosecutor's office did not say how authorities located him.

He is scheduled to be sentenced by Ryan on April 17.