Anand Shah, a Prospect Park councilman, has pleaded guilty to racketeering and money laundering for his role in an illegal gambling operation linked to the Lucchese crime family, forcing his resignation and a lifetime ban from holding public office in New Jersey.
Shah’s downfall came after prosecutors revealed he ran an illegal gambling ring across several New Jersey counties, pocketing nearly $1 million over six years. The operation, which spanned Morris, Passaic, and Bergen counties from 2017 to 2023, relied on backroom poker games and a network of subagents, with Shah collecting over $900,000 in “rakes”, the cut taken from each game.
Authorities said Shah didn’t just break the law for personal gain. He used a significant portion of the proceeds to fund his own political campaign, even forgiving gamblers’ debts in exchange for campaign contributions. As a result, Shah pleaded guilty to racketeering, money laundering, and official misconduct, resigned his council seat on Friday, and is now permanently barred from ever holding public office in the state.
The charges against Shah came as part of a sweeping crackdown on illegal gambling, one that officials say exposed deep ties between local politicians and organized crime. According to the New York Post’s reporting, the state’s investigation uncovered $4.79 million in suspected criminal proceeds, led to charges against 42 people, and resulted in 38 guilty pleas, with only two defendants still facing charges.
Shah’s sentencing is scheduled for December 4, with prosecutors recommending the maximum 10-year prison term as part of his plea deal. The Prospect Park mayor’s office has announced it will seek to fill the vacant council seat.
The state’s investigation did not stop with Shah. Prosecutors also charged several alleged members of the Lucchese family, including George Zappola, Joseph R. Perna, and John G. Perna, as high-level organizers of the ring. All three have pleaded guilty to racketeering, reportedly in exchange for lighter sentences.
The gambling operation ran out of restaurants and four illegal poker clubs, raided by police in April 2025, where Shah acted as both a manager and a bookmaker. Authorities said he relied on a crew of subagents to recruit gamblers and collect debts. The pattern was clear: organized crime still has its hands in illegal gaming, even as the state offers a range of legal gambling options.
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport’s office announced Shah’s guilty plea, highlighting the betrayal of trust involved. “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.”
Theresa L. Hilton, director of New Jersey’s Division of Criminal Justice, underscored the enduring threat. “Traditional organized crime remains a real problem in New Jersey,” Hilton said. “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.”
Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed T. Khairullah addressed the scandal in a statement, recalling that he and his colleagues called for Shah’s resignation after he was first charged in April 2025, but respected his right to due process. “Prospect Park is bigger than any one individual. We will move forward together,” Khairullah added.
The mayor’s office has said efforts are underway to fill the council vacancy. For the community, the damage is done, Shah’s case is a stark reminder that public office can be abused for personal and political enrichment, especially when accountability slips and organized crime sees an opening.
There are still unanswered questions. The specific court handling Shah’s sentencing, the exact legal order barring him from office, and the fate of the two defendants who have not pleaded guilty remain unclear. What is clear is that the state’s investigation has swept up dozens and sent a message: the old alliances between corrupt politicians and organized crime are alive and well, unless the law is willing to root them out.
Shah’s case exposes how quickly public trust can erode when weak oversight and political ambition meet criminal opportunity. Nearly $1 million funneled through illegal games ended up bankrolling a political campaign, with debts forgiven for those willing to pay up in the currency of influence. That is not just a crime, it’s a betrayal of voters who expect clean government, honest markets, and leaders who serve rather than exploit.
For New Jersey, the message is simple: organized crime thrives where politicians cut corners, and voters are left footing the bill. Until the state gets serious about rooting out corruption at every level, stories like Shah’s will keep repeating themselves.
Law and order mean nothing if the people in charge don’t play by the rules, real accountability starts at the top.
