NJ councilman Anand Shah admits running Lucchese mob gambling ring: ‘No one is above the law’

“PAY OFF YOUR GAMBLING DEBT BY WRITING A CHECK TO MY CAMPAIGN”!!! BELIEVE IT OR NOT, PROSECUTORS SAY PROSPECT PARK COUNCILMAN ANAND SHAH OPERATED AN EXTENSIVE MOB-LINKED POKER RING AND POURED THE ILLICIT PROFITS INTO HIS RUN FOR OFFICE… AND NOW HE FACES UP TO A DECADE IN STATE PRISON ALONGSIDE A PERMANENT BAN FROM GOVERNMENT SERVICE.

A New Jersey elected official has been permanently barred from holding public office after admitting to his role in an illegal gambling ring linked to the Lucchese crime family.

Prospect Park Councilman Anand Shah pocketed nearly $1 million through the illegal enterprise, according to authorities.

Shah then used a majority of those illicit proceeds to fund his political campaign.

On Friday, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced that Shah had entered a guilty plea.

The 44-year-old councilman pleaded guilty to racketeering, money laundering, and official misconduct.

Under the terms of his plea agreement, Shah faces up to 10 years in prison for the scheme.

Shah served as the Finance & (Economic Development) Insurance councilmember for the Borough of Prospect Park.

Between January 2017 and August 2023, the gambling enterprise operated out of restaurants across Morris, Passaic, and Bergen counties.

During that time, Shah functioned as a sportsbook agent and a poker manager within the network.

The local politician hosted illegal poker games, operating alongside subagents to oversee the tables.

Shah collected “rakes” from those games that yielded him a personal profit of $900,084.

And when gamblers fell into debt, Shah offered them a way out through his political ambitions.

Shah admitted that he would forgive outstanding balances for individuals who owed him money if they agreed to contribute 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,” Davenport said.

“Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that no one is above the law,” Davenport said.

According to investigators, the Lucchese crime family oversaw the poker games before law enforcement intervened.

In April 2025, police raided four illegal poker clubs connected to the crime family.

Those initial raids led investigators to uncover additional locations tied to the broader ring.

A total of 42 individuals were ultimately charged in connection with the backroom gambling operation.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, the years-long investigation uncovered $4.79 million in suspected criminal proceeds.

Mobsters utilized businesses and shell corporations in an effort to conceal the gambling cash, officials said.

“Traditional organized crime remains a real problem in New Jersey,” said NJ Division of Criminal Justice Director Theresa L. Hilton said.

“Even with a variety of legal gambling options, illegal gambling rings run by organized crime continue to operate in backrooms and online,” Hilton said.

“Law enforcement will continue to dismantle these criminal enterprises no matter where they operate,” Hilton said.

To date, 38 individuals have pleaded guilty to charges arising from the gambling investigation.

Two other defendants continue to face active charges in the case.

Alleged Lucchese family members George Zappola, Joseph R. Perna, and John G. Perna served as high-level organizers within the gambling ring, officials said.

Officials claim that Zappola, a resident of Red Bank, sits on the Lucchese ruling panel and operated at the top of the illegal operation.

Joseph Perna, 47, of Little Falls, was identified by authorities as a Lucchese captain at the time charges were filed.

John Perna, also of Little Falls, was identified by the state as a Lucchese soldier.

All three men pleaded guilty to racketeering charges in exchange for lighter prison sentence recommendations, according to officials.

But Shah now awaits his own sentencing hearing under the terms of his plea agreement.

State prosecutors will recommend a sentence of 10 years in state prison.

Shah will be forced to forfeit his local council seat and will be barred from ever seeking or holding public office in the state again.

In April 2025, Shah had been indicted for his role in the operation.

Yet Shah remained in municipal office for months following that indictment, despite calls from the mayor and fellow council members urging him to step down.

On Friday, after his guilty plea was formally made public, Shah submitted his resignation, Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed T Khairullah announced.

“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,” Khairullah said.

The mayor’s office announced that it will work to fill the vacant seat while continuing borough operations.

“Prospect Park is bigger than any one individual,” Khairullah said.

“We will move forward together,” Khairullah said.

Shah is scheduled to appear in court for sentencing on Dec. 4.