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Former Lodi City Councilmember Shakir Khan Sentenced to Three Years in Jail for 2020 Election Fraud Scheme Involving Fake Voter Registrations


A former Lodi City Council member who narrowly won election in 2020 by allegedly orchestrating a voter fraud scheme that involved registering dozens of fake voters and stashing completed mail-in ballots at his home was sentenced this month to three years in county jail.


Shakir Khan, who represented District 4 on the Lodi City Council, pleaded no contest in January 2024 to 77 criminal counts — including multiple felonies tied to election fraud, illegal gambling operations, money laundering, tax evasion, grand theft, and false COVID-19 unemployment claims. On March 2, 2026, San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Richard Mallett imposed the sentence after denying Khan’s last-ditch motion to withdraw his plea on mental-health grounds.


Image - kcra.com

Shakir Khan in news graphics and booking photos from the case. (KCRA and ABC10 archives)


Khan was ordered to serve the term in San Joaquin County Jail, with the third year suspended and served on mandatory supervision/probation. An eight-year state prison sentence was imposed but stayed — meaning it can be activated if he violates the terms of his supervision. He is eligible for early release credits after roughly one year and must begin restitution payments while remaining out of custody initially.


San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas called the outcome a strong deterrent. “Today’s sentence shows the seriousness with which we take efforts to tamper with the electoral process in San Joaquin County,” Freitas said.


Narrow 2020 Victory and the Fraud Allegations

Khan defeated the incumbent and other candidates by just 282 votes in the November 2020 election. Prosecutors later uncovered what they described as a targeted scheme within Lodi’s Pakistani community.


Investigators found:

  • 23 voter registrations filed at Khan’s own home address.

  • 47 additional registrations listing his personal email and phone number.

  • 41 completed mail-in ballots were discovered during a search of his residence.

  • Allegations that Khan intimidated or coerced residents into signing ballots, which he then filled out himself, and forged signatures on his own nomination petitions.


The election-fraud counts were bundled with a separate gambling case: Khan admitted running illegal operations at a Stockton club between 2018 and 2020. As part of that resolution, he forfeited approximately $77,000 in cash and $383,000 in property assets.


Courtroom Drama and Final Plea

Khan initially resigned from the council shortly after his 2020 arrest but later claimed the resignation was signed under duress. He briefly attempted to reclaim his seat before the charges expanded.


In January 2024, he accepted a no-contest plea deal, avoiding a trial that could have carried a sentence of up to 40 years in prison. Two years later, on March 2, Judge Mallett rejected arguments for mental-health diversion or plea withdrawal.


Related and Similar Election Fraud Cases in California and Beyond

While proven voter fraud remains statistically rare, high-profile cases involving elected officials occasionally surface, particularly in tight local races. Examples include the 2021–2022 Compton City Council runoff decided by a single vote (later overturned due to illegal ballots), a 2025 Stanton (Orange County) councilmember charged with forged nomination documents, and recent 2025–2026 probes in Irvine, Saginaw (MI), Hamtramck (MI), and Alabama involving residency fraud or absentee manipulation.


Postal Service warns 46 states their voters could be disenfranchised by delayed mail-in ballots - The Boston Globe

Illustrative image of official mail-in ballot handling, similar to materials seized in the Khan investigation.


Calls for Election Reform

The Shakir Khan case has intensified the national debate over voting laws. The scheme’s reliance on fraudulent registrations and mail-in ballot manipulation has led many to conclude that current safeguards are insufficient.

“This is why we need voter ID and limited use of mail-in ballots,” has become a common refrain among those following the sentencing closely.

Voter Photo ID — League of Women Voters Dane County. Examples of acceptable photo voter ID cards used in various states.


Advocates for reform argue that mandatory photo identification at the polls and stricter limits on absentee and mail-in voting would make it significantly harder for similar abuses to occur undetected. The case serves as a rare but vivid reminder that even small-scale tampering with the democratic process carries severe consequences when uncovered — and continues to fuel calls for stronger verification nationwide.


Court records and the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office confirmed all details. Khan has stated he is prepared to “move forward with integrity.” For full dockets or updates, contact the court directly.


Sources:

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