NJ councilman banned from public office for role in illegal gambling ring tied to Lucchese crime family
A New Jersey councilman has been permanently barred from public office after pleading guilty to running illegal gambling operations tied to the Lucchese crime family, using nearly $1 million in profits to fund his political campaign.Summary
A New Jersey politician, Prospect Park Councilman Anand Shah, has been permanently barred from holding public office after he pleaded guilty to racketeering, money laundering, and official misconduct for his role in an illegal gambling ring tied to the Lucchese crime family. Shah, 44, served as a sportsbook agent and poker manager in the gambling operation, which ran across restaurants in Morris, Passaic, and Bergen counties from January 2017 to August 2023. He hosted illegal poker games, worked with subagents, and collected "rakes" that profited him $900,084. Shah admitted he would forgive outstanding debts owed to him in exchange for contributions to his political campaign fund.
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced the plea deal, stating that 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 years-long investigation uncovered $4.79 million in suspected criminal proceeds, with mobsters using shell corporations and businesses to hide the money. The Lucchese family oversaw the poker games before officials charged 42 people in connection with the backroom games, with police raiding four illegal poker clubs connected to the family in April 2025. Thirty-eight people have already pleaded guilty, with two others still facing charges.
Alleged Lucchese family members George Zappola, Joseph R. Perna, and John G. Perna were identified as high-level organizers in the gambling ring and have pleaded guilty to racketeering in exchange for lighter prison sentence recommendations. Shah is awaiting a sentencing hearing scheduled for Dec. 4, where prosecutors will recommend 10 years in state prison as part of his plea deal. He resigned from office after his plea deal was made public, following his April 2025 indictment.
(Source：New York Post)