An Indian-origin politician in New Jersey, United States, has been charged in connection with a wide-ranging illegal gambling and money laundering operation reportedly linked to the Lucchese Crime Family, an Italian-American mafia syndicate.
Anand Shah, a council member of Prospect Park and a local business owner, is among 39 individuals charged with racketeering, gambling, money laundering, and associated offences, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office confirmed.
According to Attorney General Matthew Platkin, Shah allegedly oversaw illicit poker games and managed an illegal online sportsbook in collaboration with the Lucchese Crime Family.
“The investigation uncovered additional poker clubs, the involvement of dozens of individuals alleged to have hosted poker games and worked at the poker clubs, and managed bettors on an illegal online sportsbook,” read the statement issued by Platkin’s office.
The investigation, conducted over two years, revealed that more than $3 million in suspected criminal proceeds were funnelled through shell corporations and functioning businesses to obscure their origin.
Twelve locations were searched on 9 April, including four poker clubs, seven residences and a commercial establishment in Paterson. These premises were either allegedly hiding poker operations or directly linked to the illegal gambling activities.
Among the 39 charged, four have been identified as suspected members of the Lucchese family — George Zappola, Joseph Perna, John Perna and Wayne Cross. They have all been charged with first-degree racketeering and second-degree conspiracy to promote gambling and money laundering.
A second Indian-origin man, 48-year-old Samir S Nadkarni of Florida, has also been implicated in the gambling ring, officials added.
Attorney General Platkin underlined the dangers of glamorising organised crime through pop culture, stating: “Romanticized versions of organized crime have been the subject of countless movies and television shows, often set right here in the Garden State. But the reality isn’t romantic or cinematic. It’s about breaking the laws the rest of us follow and, ultimately, it’s about money, control, and the threat of violence.”
Colonel Patrick J Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, warned of the grave threat posed by such criminal networks to public safety and community integrity.
“Criminal enterprises like this pose a serious threat to the safety and well-being of our communities, driving illegal gambling, money laundering, and racketeering operations that value profit over people,” he said. “Thanks to our detectives’ tireless work and unwavering commitment, this operation was successfully dismantled — sending a strong message that we will not tolerate this kind of criminal activity in New Jersey.”
Follow us
