Lacey Pot Grower Admits To Making Racist Threats To Delivery Man

LACEY, NJ — A Lacey man admitted to growing marijuana illegally in his home and making racist threats to a Black Amazon delivery driver, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced.

John Vincentini, 64, pleaded guilty to bias intimidation in connection with the Sept. 2022 incident, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. Vincentini also pleaded guilty to possession of an assault firearm and possession of marijuana in a quantity of more than one ounce but less than five pounds with intent to distribute in connection to unrelated incidents in March 2024.

Vincentini followed the delivery driver into a cul-de-sac where he was making deliveries on Sept. 5, 2022, Billhimer said.

He parked his car to block the delivery vehicle, Billhimer said, and confronted the driver.

Vincentini told the driver, "What are you doing in my neighborhood, don't you know this is a racist neighborhood," according to the affidavit of probable cause obtained by Patch.

He then told the driver "do you want me to get into my car, get my rifle, and blow your brains off," according to the affidavit.

The affidavit said that those were the only two things Vincentini said to the driver.

The driver then drove away, and Vincentini followed him for a "short period of time" before pulling into a driveway on a neighboring street, the affidavit said. The driver contacted Lacey police.

Then, on March 15, 2024, residents reported to Lacey police that a repurposed Amazon delivery box that had marijuana in it was delivered to their doorstep, Billhimer said.

Investigation found that Vincentini was responsible for delivering the box, authorities said.

On March 21, detectives executed a court-authorized search warrant on the Vincentinis home. They seized about 10 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 about $150,000 in cash, authorities said.

Both he and his wife, Karen Vincentini, were taken into custody, Billhimer said. Both have been sitting in Ocean County Jail since, and Karen Vincentini's charges remain pending.

Vincentini's sentencing is set for July 19, where the state is seeking a term of five years in New Jersey State Prison for the bias intimidation charge, five years with a 42 month period of parole ineligibility for the assault firearm charge and three years for the narcotics charge. These sentences would run concurrently.