NJ Councilman Anand Shah Banned from Office Over Lucchese Gambling Ring
Prospect Park Councilman Anand Shah pleaded guilty to racketeering and laundering nearly $1M from an illegal gambling ring tied to the Lucchese crime family.
Prospect Park politician pleads guilty to racketeering, loses office permanently
Prospect Park Councilman Anand Shah has been permanently barred from holding public office in New Jersey after pleading guilty to racketeering, money laundering, and official misconduct, NY Post Metro reports. Shah pocketed nearly $1 million from an illegal gambling ring tied to the Lucchese crime family — the bulk of which he funneled into his own political campaign.
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced the guilty plea on Friday. Shah, 44, faces up to 10 years in state prison under the terms of his plea deal, with sentencing scheduled for December 4.
Shah served as the Finance and Economic Development Insurance councilmember for the Borough of Prospect Park. Between January 2017 and August 2023, he operated as a sportsbook agent and poker manager in a gambling ring that ran backroom games across restaurants in Morris, Passaic, and Bergen counties. He hosted illegal poker nights, managed subagents, and collected "rakes" that netted him $900,084 in criminal proceeds.
He also admitted to forgiving outstanding debts owed by gamblers in exchange for contributions to his campaign fund.
"Public officials have a special duty to ensure that they follow the law," Davenport said. "The defendant not only broke the law, but he then used criminal proceeds to fund his political campaign. Today's guilty plea demonstrates that no one is above the law."
The Lucchese crime family oversaw the poker operations before authorities charged 42 people in connection with the scheme. Police raided four illegal poker clubs linked to the family in April 2025, uncovering additional locations tied to the ring. The years-long investigation identified $4.79 million in suspected criminal proceeds; organizers concealed the money through shell corporations and front businesses.
Alleged Lucchese family members George Zappola, Joseph R. Perna, and John G. Perna were identified as high-level organizers and have each pleaded guilty to racketeering in exchange for lighter sentencing recommendations. Thirty-eight people in total have already pleaded guilty in connection with the gambling investigation, with two others still facing charges.
"Traditional organized crime remains a real problem in New Jersey," said NJ Division of Criminal Justice Director Theresa L. Hilton. "Even with a variety of legal gambling options, illegal gambling rings run by organized crime continue to operate in backrooms and online. Law enforcement will continue to dismantle these criminal enterprises no matter where they operate."
Shah resigned from the Prospect Park council on Friday, hours after his plea deal became public. Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed T. Khairullah confirmed the resignation and noted that Shah had remained in office since his initial indictment in April 2025, despite repeated calls from the mayor and fellow council members for him to step down.
"When Mr. Shah was first charged in 2025, I joined my colleagues in calling for his resignation," Khairullah said. "At the same time, we respected his right to due process and allowed the judicial process to take its course."
As part of his plea agreement, Shah must forfeit his council seat and is permanently prohibited from holding any public office. The mayor's office said it will move to fill the vacancy.
"Prospect Park is bigger than any one individual. We will move forward together," Khairullah said.
Source: NY Post Metro