Two years after pleading no contest to 77 felony and misdemeanor charges, former Lodi City Council member Shakir Khan was sentenced to three years in San Joaquin County Jail.
Khan was sentenced Monday, March 2, by Judge Richard Mallett in San Joaquin County Superior Court in Stockton. Under Assembly Bill 109, he will serve three years in county jail, with one year suspended and served on mandatory supervision. He originally faced a possible 40-year state prison sentence, but a plea deal reduced the term.
AB 109, California’s criminal justice realignment law enacted in 2011, requires certain lower-level felony offenders to serve their sentences in county jail rather than state prison and allows a portion of the term to be served under local supervision.
The court also imposed an eight-year state prison term that is stayed pending Khan’s successful completion of mandatory supervision. If he violates the terms, the stayed prison sentence could be imposed.
Khan pleaded no contest in January 2024 to 77 counts including 41 counts of illegal gambling, money laundering, tax evasion and grand theft; 12 counts of unemployment fraud involving COVID-19 reimbursements; and 14 election fraud counts. His case had been delayed more than a year as his attorney sought to withdraw the plea based on newly discovered mental health conditions.
Defense attorney Allen Sawyer argued in court filings in September 2025 that psychological evaluations conducted after the plea revealed previously undiagnosed mental health disorders that impaired Khan’s understanding of the proceedings.
“It is the psychologist’s professional opinion that Mr. Khan’s cluster of mental health symptoms ‘played an extremely significant role in the present alleged offenses,'” Sawyer wrote. “Mr. Khan’s conditions likely impaired his decision-making, impulse control, and behavior related to the charges. In essence, his actions were driven in large part by unrecognized conditions, not by a clear, fully conscious intent to violate the law.”
Deputy District Attorney Todd Turner wrote in the opposition filed on Monday, Feb. 9, that “mental health diagnosis is not evidence.” He argued the evaluations occurred after the plea and did not demonstrate innocence or undermine the factual basis for the agreement. The prosecution characterized the motion as buyer’s remorse and maintained the plea should stand.
Turner wrote that the defendant’s credibility was “extremely suspect,” citing allegations he told significant lies during the investigation. Turner referenced claims that Khan pretended to be his brother during phone calls with sheriff’s deputies and denied knowledge of how a fish game machine entered his Stockton business, assertions prosecutors said were contradicted by video evidence showing him assisting in bringing the device into American Smokers Club and starting it.
Mallett denied the defense’s request to withdraw the plea and sentencing proceeded.
In a statement, San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas said the sentence underscores the office’s commitment to protecting election integrity and holding accountable those who attempt to undermine the democratic process.
“Today’s sentence shows the seriousness with which we take efforts to tamper with the electoral process in San Joaquin County,” Freitas said. “Accountability includes honoring the plea and fulfilling the terms of supervision. If Mr. Khan fails to comply, the full consequences of his sentence will be enforced.”
Sawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the sentencing.
In a statement, Khan said he respected the court’s decision and thanked his legal team and supporters.
“It was an honor and a privilege to serve my district and my community for three years on the city council,” Khan said. “I am prepared to put this chapter behind me and move forward with integrity, focus and renewed purpose. The work of serving our community continues, and I remain dedicated to being a positive force for those who need a voice.”
He also expressed gratitude to his family, friends and community members “who stood by me and supported me during one of the most difficult times in my life.”
Khan served on the Lodi City Council from November 2020 until his resignation in February 2023 following his arrest on election-related charges.
Prosecutors alleged Khan operated an illegal online gambling business at the American Smokers Club in Stockton between 2018 and 2020 and committed election fraud in connection with his 2020 council campaign.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said that during the investigation, deputies found 41 sealed and completed mail-in ballots at Khan’s home. Investigators also found 23 voter registrations listing his address and 47 others at different addresses that used Khan’s email and phone number. The agency said Khan targeted members of Lodi’s Pakistani community.
The sheriff’s office said body camera footage showed people saying Khan pressured them to vote for him or sign ballots on their behalf. The agency said once the investigation was made public, Khan released a video in Urdu asking people to say they had signed their own ballots if questioned by authorities.
He was ordered in January 2025 to forfeit $460,000 in property. Khan remains subject to mandatory supervision following his jail term.
(This article has been updated with additional information.)
Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Lodi ex-councilman Shakir Khan sentenced after motion to withdraw plea fails
Reporting by Hannah Workman, The Stockton Record / The Record
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