Sunny Sharma, a onetime Red Bank liquor retailer who was stripped of his license for selling booze to minors, has been arrested on an alleged immigration violation, redbankgreen has learned.
Red Bank police confirmed that Sharma was taken into custody at his Leighton Avenue grocery store Thursday afternoon on a warrant by officials from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Police had no additional information. A spokesman for ICE could not immediately be reached for comment on the reason for the arrest and Sharma’s status.
A witness tells redbankgreen that Sharma was led out of his store in handcuffs.
A native of India and Middletown resident, Sharma became a lightning rod for complaints from neighbors of his store, then known as Best Liquors, over allegations of noise, litter, and prostitution occurring in its vicinity.
After a series of municipal court cases over charges that Sharma and at least one of his employees had repeatedly sold alcohol to or untaxed cigarettes to minors, the Red Bank council stripped Sharma of his license to operate a package-goods business in June, 2007.
The move was upheld on appeal by the the state Alcoholic Beverage Control division, and Sharma converted his shop to a grocery and convenience store called Best Deli & Food Mart.
