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.”
Shah was one of 39 people charged in connection with the alleged racket, according to Platkin’s office.
The arrests are the product of an investigation that lasted about two years and spanned New Jersey localities including Woodland Park, Garfield and Totowa, according to Platkin’s office.
“Following a two-year investigation into illegal gambling activities tied to the Lucchese Crime Family, searches were conducted on April 9, 2025, on four poker clubs located in Totowa, Garfield, and Woodland Park, including two clubs where backroom poker games were hidden behind functioning restaurants; a business in Paterson storing gambling machines; and seven residences of individuals alleged to be managing the gambling activities,” Platkin’s office said in a statement. “A Prospect Park council member and local business owner – Anand Shah, 42, of Prospect Park, New Jersey – was identified as allegedly managing illegal poker games and an online sportsbook in association with the Lucchese Crime Family. The investigation uncovered additional poker clubs, the involvement of dozens of individuals alleged to have hosted poker games and worked at the poker clubs, and managed bettors on an illegal online sportsbook.”
“I’m keenly aware of the public’s perception of elected officials in New Jersey and the lack of trust that so many have in their public officials and governmental institutions,” Platkin said during the Friday press conference. “The arrest of a city council member only adds fuel to that fire.”
Shah was in his third term as a councilman at the time of his arrest, according to Bergen Record.
It was not immediately clear who is representing Shah.
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