NRI Anand Shah Among 39 Face Serious Charges in Gambling and
Money Laundering Case

Los Angeles/Apr 12, 2025
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

A New Jersey councilman is among nearly 40 people charged in connection with a sophisticated illegal gambling ring allegedly operated by members of the Lucchese crime family, authorities announced Friday.

The gambling network generated over $3 million in illicit profits, according to New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. Prosecutors say the operation made use of international betting websites and front companies to hide its financial activity.

NRI Anand Shah, a Prospect Park borough council member, is accused of running underground poker games and managing an online sportsbook that was tied to the crime syndicate. He now faces charges including racketeering, conspiracy, and money laundering.

Attorney General Platkin said that while organized crime may have adapted with technology, the motivations remain the same. “It’s still about power and profit—and those involved believe they’re above the law,” he said.

Prospect Park’s mayor, Mohamed T. Khairullah, addressed the arrest in a public statement, assuring residents that the charges against Shah are unrelated to his official municipal duties and reaffirming a commitment to transparency in local government.

The takedown follows a two-year investigation by state and federal authorities, including the New Jersey State Police and the FBI. Law enforcement conducted raids at multiple poker locations in Totowa, Garfield, and Woodland Park, as well as a property in Paterson believed to house illegal gaming machines. Some of the poker operations were reportedly run from restaurant backrooms.

Theresa L. Hilton, director of the Division of Criminal Justice, described the organization as a “highly structured and profitable criminal enterprise” that operated with arrogance and impunity.

Among those charged were reputed Lucchese leaders Joseph R. Perna, also known as “Big Joe,” and George J. Zappola, a reported member of the group’s ruling panel. Two alleged soldiers, John G. Perna and Wayne D. Cross, were also named in the indictment. Prosecutors allege the four oversaw the illegal gambling activities and profited from them.

In addition to gambling charges, two defendants are accused of stealing over $22,000 worth of goods from Home Depot as part of a money laundering scheme involving real estate.

“All too often, people romanticize organized crime,” said Platkin. “But the truth is, it’s built on greed, criminality, and exploitation. There’s nothing glamorous about it.”

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