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Anand U. Shah has pleaded guilty to running an illegal sports betting and poker business.
Shah, 44, a Prospect Park, New Jersey councilman, pleaded guilty on August 28, 2026 to first-degree racketeering, first-degree money laundering and second-degree official misconduct for his role in an illegal gambling operation authorities say was associated with the Lucchese crime family.
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), and the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) announced the plea deal late Friday.
The state will recommend a sentence of 10 years in state prison, of which 85 percent must be served before parole eligibility. Shah must also forfeit his public office and is permanently barred from holding public office. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 4, 2026.
“Public officials have a special duty to ensure that they follow the law,” said Attorney General Davenport. “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.”
“Traditional organized crime remains a real problem in New Jersey,” said DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton. “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.”
Shah functioned as a sportsbook agent/poker manager in the operation. At his plea hearing, Shad admitted that he conspired with other members of the enterprise and committed repeated acts of gambling and money laundering in Morris, Passaic, and Bergen counties. Shah admitted that he had subagents under him and managed and controlled financial transactions and caused others to direct portions of funds derived from criminal activity to his campaign for his position as Councilman.
Shah admitted that he acted as a poker manager and host in illegal poker clubs where a “rake” — a percentage of the monies bet by the players as a profit for the house for each hand played – was collected, and acted as agent with dozens of subagents under him on sportsbook. From January 2017 to August 2023, the criminal proceeds directly attributable to Shah totaled $900,084. Shah admitted that he had individuals who owed him gambling debts contribute to his campaign in lieu of paying the debt and would forgive their balance of debt if they donated to the campaign.
Shah is one of 42 people who have been indicted since the initial arrests in April 2025 following a two-year investigation into illegal gambling, loansharking, extortion, and money laundering tied to the Lucchese crime family.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
