Indian-Origin Councillor Linked to Mafia Gambling Operation in New Jersey

Charges Filed Against Anand Shah

New York: An Indian-origin municipal councillor has been implicated in a gambling operation linked to organized crime, as reported by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin.

Anand Shah, aged 42, is among 39 individuals facing charges that include racketeering, gambling offenses, money laundering, and various other crimes, according to Platkin's announcement on Friday.

These charges stem from law enforcement raids conducted at 12 different locations across the state, which included four poker establishments.

Another individual of Indian descent, Samir S Nadkarni, 48, from Longwood, Florida, was also charged and identified as a 'sportsbook sub-agent/poker host.'

Shah, who was gaining prominence in New Jersey politics, was serving his second term as a municipal councillor in Prospect Park, a suburb of New York, overseeing finance, economic development, and insurance.

Platkin remarked that the arrest of an active council member exacerbates public skepticism towards elected officials.

Shah was reportedly involved in managing illegal poker games and an online sportsbook in collaboration with the notorious Lucchese Crime Family, as stated by Platkin's office.

The Lucchese Crime Family is recognized as one of the most feared Italian-American mafia organizations in the United States, known for collaborating with individuals from various ethnic backgrounds.

Sportsbook gambling refers to wagering on sporting events.

Officials estimate that the gambling operation was valued at around $3 million.

Platkin emphasized that while mob activities are often glamorized in films and television, the reality is far from glamorous, focusing instead on law violations, financial gain, control, and the potential for violence.

Authorities noted that these gambling operations were typically conducted from social clubs or hidden behind legitimate businesses such as restaurants, and also involved gambling machines.