Ex-Soccer Coach and Former Professional Player Cleared of Drug Charges
By Brian Cole
Published on June 21, 2006
Arben Zenelaj, 39, of Peapack-Gladstone, was also a professional soccer player in his native country, Albania.
“I knew there was some kind of mistake, some misunderstanding, and I knew I would be cleared," said Zenelaj after the jury found him innocent.
He still remains accused of money laundering, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to distribute marijuana, however. Those charges stem from a 2003 incident in which Zenelaj was reportedly seen by police with a truck driver from Canada. That truck driver was later found with $72,000 he claimed was paid to him by Zenelaj in return for a large amount of marijuana.
Nearly all the evidence for the case came from Jason Shaw, a 21-year-old from Florida who told jurors Zenelaj sold him 8 pounds of marijuana between 2001 and 2002, when he was a teenager.
Shaw testified that he brought home two pounds of marijuana he had purchases from Zenelaj for $6,200. Shaw said his father then discovered him and a friend packing the marijuana in the basement of their home and called the police. When he was picked up by police he provided Zenelaj’s name as his supplier.
Zenelaj’s lawyer said Shaw had simply wanted to get himself out of trouble and protect the identity of his true supplier.
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