CLAYTON, NJ — A 43-year-old man was sentenced for growing marijuana illegally behind a vacant home in Clayton, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.
Jason Bacon, who had homes in both Clayton and Brick Township, was sentenced to 32 years in jail, subject to 12 years of parole ineligibility, after he was found guilty on the following charges:
Beginning in December 2017, Clayton Police found a large greenhouse that was built behind a vacant house along Delsea Drive.
The house used large amounts of water and electricity, and received large freight shipments of materials consistent with the illegal growing of marijuana, according to authorities.
After a public records search, Bacon was identified as the owner.
On April 26, 2018, authorities carried out search warrants on Bacon's properties in Clayton and Brick Township.
More than 25 pounds of marijuana, more than five pounds of hashish and hashish products, marijuana plants, items associated with the cultivation of marijuana, and a loaded .25 caliber handgun were confiscated.
Bacon was taken into custody at the home in Brick and taken to the Ocean County Jail. He was ordered to be detained but was released in April 2019 under New Jersey Bail Reform.
Detectives also learned that Bacon deposited more than $400,000 of proceeds from the sale of illegal drugs to his bank account between 2013 and 2018.
He also did not pay income tax on these funds.
Bacon's trial began without him on Jan. 14, 2025.
He was taken into custody a year later on Jan. 15 in Mexico by the United States Marshals Task Force and is being held in the Ocean County Jail.
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