NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Prospect Park, New Jersey: Anand Shah, a 42-year-old municipal councilman from Prospect Park, New Jersey, has been charged in connection with a sprawling illegal gambling ring allegedly tied to the notorious Lucchese crime family. The announcement was made Friday by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who confirmed that Shah was one of 39 individuals indicted on charges that include racketeering, money laundering, and illegal gambling.
According to prosecutors, the two-year investigation uncovered a sophisticated criminal enterprise that raked in over $3 million in illicit profits through poker games and online sports betting. Authorities say Shah operated and managed illegal poker clubs and ran an online sportsbook as part of the operation. The gambling activities were allegedly coordinated using social clubs and offshore betting websites, allowing the network to remain largely undetected for years.
While Shah has not been accused of using his public office to further the scheme, investigators allege he is an associate of the Lucchese crime family—one of the “Five Families” that dominate organized crime in New York and parts of New Jersey. The gambling ring was reportedly led by George Zappola, a high-ranking member of the Lucchese family’s ruling panel, with support from captain Joseph “Big Joe” Perna and soldiers John Perna and Wayne Cross.
Raids conducted during the investigation targeted four poker clubs in Totowa, Garfield, Woodland Park, and Paterson, where law enforcement seized evidence pointing to the extensive scale and organization of the operation.
“This case pulls back the curtain on how traditional organized crime continues to evolve in modern times, using technology and legitimate-looking fronts to run illegal operations,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Our office remains committed to dismantling these criminal enterprises and holding everyone involved accountable—no matter their position or public profile.”
If convicted, Shah could face up to 20 years in prison for the most serious charges.
The investigation is ongoing, with additional arrests and charges possible in the coming weeks.
