Anand Shah, a municipal councillor of Indian origin from Prospect Park, New Jersey, has been charged with racketeering, illegal gambling, money laundering, and related offences as part of a $3 million criminal enterprise allegedly tied to the Lucchese crime family.
Currently in his second term on the Prospect Park Borough Council, Shah oversees key portfolios including finance and economic development. He was one of 39 individuals named in a sweeping set of charges unveiled by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin on Friday.
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The charges follow a two-year investigation uncovering a large-scale illegal gambling ring operating in North Jersey. Authorities say Shah managed underground poker games and an online sportsbook, working alongside upper-level members of the Lucchese crime family—one of America’s most notorious organised crime groups.
Searches conducted on April 9 targeted 12 locations, including poker clubs hidden behind restaurants, private residences, and businesses allegedly involved in laundering illicit funds. The operation used offshore servers, shell corporations, and legitimate fronts to mask its gambling proceeds.
Officials warned of the broader implications of the case, stressing that such criminal enterprises endanger communities. Attorney General Platkin stated that the involvement of an elected official deepens public mistrust, while authorities confirmed the investigation remains ongoing and additional charges may follow.
