Gas Station Workers Face Gambling Charges

Two employees of a Howell gas station are facing charges after an illegal gambling machine was found on the property. 

According to the Howell Police Department the investigation was conducted in conjunction with the New Jersey Attorney General's Division of Gaming. An investigation resulted in the discovery of a coin pushing machine at the Gulf Gas Station at the intersection of Route 9 and Aldrich Rd. 

Syed Shah, 32, of Toms River and Asif Khan, 33, of Lakewood face a variety of charges stemming from the arrests. Both face third degree promoting of gambling for recreation or money and fourth degree maintaining a gambling resort open to the public for having the machine in a building. They also both face one count of possession of a gambling device, which is a disorderly persons offense. 

A release from the department said the machine was prominently displayed in the station's store making it available to the patrons. After representatives from the Attorney General's Office confirmed that the machine was there and being used the local department was involved in the investigation. 

The investigation included Chief Scott Jenkins, Inv. Joseph Chessere, Inv. Bruce Hurlburt and Inv. Christine Donahue from the Division of Gaming. Sgt. Thomas Rizzo, Ptl. Matthew Cherney and Ptl. Nick Bondarew as well as Det. Christian Antunez represented the Howell Police Department.