Former Lodi Councilman Shak Khan pleads no contest to charges, gets 2-year sentence [Lodi News-Sentinel, Calif.]

Jan. 4—Former Lodi Councilman Shakir Khan entered a plea of no contest to 71 felonies and six misdemeanors in San Joaquin County Superior Court Thursday.

Khan agreed to an eight-year suspended sentence in relation to illegal gambling and unemployment insurance fraud charges brought against him in 2020.

In addition. Khan agreed to three years in prison in relation to election fraud charges brought against him last year.

"The eight years were suspended to give (Khan) an opportunity to change his ways, abide by the lawful conditions and give him an opportunity to become a law-abiding citizen," San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas said.

"We had very strong evidence in this case," Freitas added. "We always felt the evidence was strong and because of the strength of the evidence, he was really backed into a corner and had no option."

Of the 77 counts against Khan, 41 were related to illegal gambling, money laundering, tax evasion and grand theft, and 22 were related to false claims filed with the California Employment Development Department regarding COVID-19 reimbursements.

The remaining 14 counts were related to election fraud.

"Today is a reminder that the law will be applied fairly to everyone in San Joaquin County, no matter what your title," Freitas said. "And we will defend the very basis of our democratic institutions, our representative republic and your right to vote each and every time someone tries to endanger them."

Sawyer said Khan chose to resolve the matter through a plea deal which allows him to not contest the charges without agreeing to the factual basis as presented by the prosecution.

"Today, Mr. Khan has made a difficult decision in the best interest of his family and his future," Sawyer said. "

Facing a potential state prison sentence of 40 years, Sawyer said, Khan accepted an agreement with the court which will result in a two-year sentence in San Joaquin County Jail.

However, with standard procedures and credit for time served, Sawyer anticipated the actual time served would be closer to one year.

"The decision to enter a plea of no contest is not one that comes lightly," Sawyer said. "However, Mr. Khan has chosen to take this path as a means to an end, ensuring that he can return to his family in the shortest time possible. He has a wife and young children whose well-being has been at the forefront of his considerations throughout this process."

Khan was first arrested in October of 2020, a week before he was elected to the Lodi City Council's 4th District seat.

The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office at the time said he was one of seven arrested during a weeks-long investigation into illegal gambling establishments throughout the county.

According to the 45-page complaint filed against Khan at the time, he had been allowing illegal gambling to occur at the American Smokers Club, located at 2620 E. Waterloo Road in Stockton, between Feb. 14, 2018 and Sept. 7, 2020.

Khan was arrested a second time last February on the voter fraud charges after Sheriff's Office detectives were alerted to irregularities in voter rolls at the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters Office that were tied to Khan's Lodi address.

Investigators found 70 names on on the voter rolls were registered to Khan's address, email or cellular phone.

Further investigation found Khan allegedly intimidated Lodi District 4 residents — all of whom are members of the city's Pakistani community — into voting for him.

He allegedly had many of them sign mail-in ballots that he filled out, and registered many of them to vote using his personal email address and cellular phone, according to the Sheriff's Office.

In addition, investigators said Khan forged several signatures on his nomination papers needed to run for city council.

Lodi City Councilmember Mikey Hothi visited Khan in county jail the day he was arrested on the election fraud charges and urged him to sign a letter of resignation from his seat.

Khan agreed to do so, but 15 minutes later renounced his decision.

He had sued the City of Lodi and the council earlier this year to reclaim his seat.

"At this point (Khan is) going to be convicted of multiple felonies which will render him unable to claim his seat, so that's a moot point now," Hothi said. "I give credit to the district attorney for pushing this through. It's been open for a few years now, and it wasn't until our current DA got elected that the case got pushed through."

Sawyer said Khan intends to focus on his family and begin the process of moving forward after the conclusion of the legal proceedings.

No decision has been made whether he will continue his litigation regarding his council seat, Sawyer said.

Khan is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 16 for sentencing.

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