At that time, Shah was making child support payments but had arrears. In 2000, his passport was suspended due to the amount of arrears, thus making him unable to perform in Europe and receive that income. By 2004 he still had some arrears, which were used to constantly threaten his freedom; he would literally be called to Family Court every three months with a demand to pay $2,000 over and above the regular payments, or be threatened with jail. By 2005 he desperately needed the promised cash. The New York Times wrote that “[t]he government has acknowledged that neither Mr. Shah, nor the three others accused in the case...were on the verge of any violent act.”
