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Read Full BioNew Jersey Councilman Anand Shah has been indicted on 18 charges related to participating in an illegal gambling ring. He is due to appear in front of State Superior Court Judge Ralph Amirata in Morristown on October 24 for his post-indictment arraignment.
A court document shared with Casino Beats from the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office confirmed the charges against the Prospect Park Council President. Despite the allegations, Shah is seeking support for another three-year council term ahead of the general election on November 4.
The charges against Shah are as follows:
- Racketeering – first degree
- Conspiracy – second degree
- Promoting gambling by bookmaking – third degree
- Promoting gambling by materially aiding gambling – third degree
- Maintaining a gambling resort – fourth degree
- Possession of gambling records – third degree
- Money laundering – first degree (three counts)
- Money laundering – third degree
- Criminal usury – second degree
- Official misconduct – second degree
- Campaign finance violation – fourth degree
- Tampering with public records – third degree
- Theft by extortion – second degree
- Theft by unlawful taking – third degree
- Failure to pay gross income tax – third degree
- Filing fraudulent tax return – third degree
The document alleges that the councilman “threatened to inflict bodily injury” on “multiple victims” owed money from the gambling activities. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum prison sentence of over 150 years.
Others implicated in the indictment include members and associates of the Lucchese Crime Family. An image released by investigators shows the alleged hierarchy of the enterprise that ran the illegal gambling and criminal operation.
George Zappola, a member of the Lucchese family, allegedly heads the operation.
Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) Director Theresa L. Hilton said, “We allege that members and associates of the Lucchese Crime Family operated illegal card games and sports betting books in northern New Jersey.”
She added, “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 Maintains Innocence Following 7-Week Detention
Shah was arrested in April and spent seven weeks in Morris County Jail until the Superior Court authorized his release.
Upon release, he posted a statement on Facebook maintaining his innocence. His Attorney DeMarco stated, “Mr. Shah is deeply grateful for the Appellate Division’s decision and eagerly anticipates his day in court, where he will vigorously defend against the State’s charges and clear his previously unblemished name and reputation.”
Casino Beats reached out to Shah’s office for further comment, but did not receive a response. Shah, of Indian origin, hails from Gujarat’s Ahmedabad and was a local business owner and resident in Prospect Park. For more than 15 years, he owned Papa John’s Pizza and Subway franchises along with 14 other restaurants.
After his arrest, Prospect Park elected officials called on Shah to resign. A statement posted on Mayor Mohamed T. Khairullah‘s Facebook page read, “As elected representatives of the Borough of Prospect Park, we are calling on Councilman Anand Shah to step down from his current role and withdraw his nomination for reelection to the Borough Council.”
Shah, however, continues to campaign for reelection. Given his attorney’s previous statements, it would be expected that he enter a not guilty plea in court later this month.
New Jersey AG Cracking Down on ‘Violent Criminals’
Shah was one of 39 arrested following a two-year investigation led by Attorney General Matthew Plotkin, the DCJ, and the New Jersey State Police (NJSP). A total of 42 have now been named in the indictment.
The investigation led to searches at 12 locations throughout North Jersey on April 9. The locations included four poker clubs in Totowa, Garfield, and Woodland Park, with two clubs having backroom poker games hidden behind functioning restaurants.
At the time of the arrests, Plotkin stated, “Romanticized versions of organized crime have been the subject of countless movies and television shows, often set right here in the Garden State.”
He added, “But the reality isn’t romantic or cinematic. It’s about breaking the laws the rest of us follow and, ultimately, it’s about money, control, and the threat of violence. My office is bringing every resource available to crack down on violent criminals – including organized crime – and will root it out in all of its forms. And that is exactly what we have done.”
New Jersey has also been clamping down on unregulated gambling, with the state joining a growing number to ban sweepstakes casinos earlier this year.
