Prosecutor: NJ political consultant found dead had been suffering from illness, tests pending

Indicted NJ consultant who died had been ill

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Authorities are investigating the death of a political consultant who was arrested in last week’s federal corruption sweep in New Jersey.

Jack Shaw was found dead in his Jersey City apartment Tuesday evening.

A preliminary autopsy conducted Wednesday didn’t establish a cause of death. Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio says more toxicology tests are needed.

DeFazio says the 61-year-old was found by his girlfriend lying on the floor of the apartment near a desk.

The prosecutor says Shaw’s death doesn’t appear to be a homicide. Prescription drugs were found at the scene, but DeFazio says Shaw was suffering from an undisclosed illness.

Shaw was accused of taking $10,000 in bribes from a government informant posing as a developer.