A New Jersey politician has been permanently barred from holding public office after he admitted to his role in an illegal gambling ring tied to the Lucchese crime family, where he pocketed nearly $1 million – a majority of which he used to fund his political campaign.
Prospect Park Councilman Anand Shah pleaded guilty to racketeering, money laundering, and official misconduct and faces up to 10 years in prison for the scheme, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced Friday.
Shah, 44, was a sportsbook agent and poker manager in the gambling ring that operated across restaurants in the Garden State’s Morris, Passaic, and Bergen counties between January 2017 and August 2023.
The local politician, who served as the Finance & (Economic Development) Insurance councilmember for the Borough of Prospect Park, hosted the illegal poker rings, operating with subagents and collecting “rakes” that profited him $900,084.
Shah admitted that he would forgive outstanding balances to those who owed him money if they contributed 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. Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that no one is above the law.”
The Lucchese family oversaw the poker games before officials charged 42 people in connection with the backroom games.
Police had raided four illegal poker clubs connected to the family in April 2025, where they uncovered more locations connected to the ring.
The years-long investigation into the gambling ring uncovered $4.79 million in suspected criminal proceeds, where mobsters would use shell corporations and businesses to hide the proceeds, Davenport’s office 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. Law enforcement will continue to dismantle these criminal enterprises no matter where they operate.”
Thirty-eight people have already pleaded guilty for their roles in the gambling investigation, with two others still facing charges.
Alleged Lucchese family members George Zappola, Joseph R. Perna, and John G. Perna were high-level organizers in the gambling ring and have pleaded guilty to racketeering in exchange for lighter prison sentence recommendations, officials said.
Shah is awaiting a sentencing hearing where prosecutors will recommend 10 years in state prison as part of his plea deal.
The corrupt pol will be forced to forfeit his political office and will be banned from ever holding public office again.
Shah resigned Friday after his plea deal was made public, Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed T Khairullah announced.
Shah had remained in office following his indictment back in April 2025 despite the mayor and other council members urging his resignation.
“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.
The mayor’s office will look to fill Shah’s vacancy while still serving the borough.
“Prospect Park is bigger than any one individual. We will move forward together,” Khairullah said.
Shah is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 4.
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