New Jersey Dem, Reputed Mobsters Arrested In Connection To Alleged Gambling Ring

A Democratic official in New Jersey and several reputed mobsters have been charged for their alleged roles in a major illegal gambling ring in the state, Democratic New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced Friday.

Democratic Prospect Park Councilman Anand Shah, aged 42, is alleged to have illegally run poker games and a sportsbook tied to suspected members of the Lucchese crime family, one of the five major mafia families of New York, Platkin’s office announced Friday. The alleged mobbed-up gambling scheme operated out of restaurants and homes across the state and generated approximately $3 million in illicit cash.

Officials allege that suspected Lucchese mobsters George Zappola, Joseph “Big Joe” Perna, John Perna and Wayne Cross were involved in the scheme. Shah has been charged with racketeering, money laundering and conspiring to promote gambling, among others, and he could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the most serious counts, according to the New York Post.

“In the complaint we’re announcing today, we allege that members and associates of the Lucchese Crime Family operated illegal card games and sports betting books in northern New Jersey,” Theresa Hilton, director of New Jersey’s Division of Criminal Justice, said in a statement. “This can lead to other criminal activity, such as money laundering and theft. Two of the defendants are charged with stealing from local retailers in addition to their roles in the gambling operation. These are not so-called ‘victimless’ crimes, and we take seriously our responsibility to root out these illegal enterprises.”