NJ Councilman Faces 18 Charges in Illegal Gambling Case
Councilman Anand Shah has been hit with 18 criminal charges connected to what prosecutors say was a multimillion-dollar illegal gambling ring running through several towns in North Jersey.
Councilman Anand Shah
18 criminal charges
multimillion-dollar illegal gambling ring
North Jersey
$3M in Illegal Profits
The 42-year-old council president was first arrested back in April after a lengthy investigation into underground poker rooms and offshore sports betting sites.
underground poker rooms and offshore sports betting sites
Prosecutors claim that the man played a key role in a gambling network that generated more than $3 million in illegal profits, all operating outside of New Jersey’s regulated gaming system.
$3 million in illegal profits
Among the charges are serious ones, first-degree money laundering and racketeering, as well as official misconduct, theft by extortion, and tampering with public records.
first-degree money laundering and racketeering
official misconduct
theft by extortion
tampering with public records
Investigators allege that Shah used his position on the Prospect Park Borough Council to protect the operation and interfere with oversight.
Prospect Park Borough Council
According to state investigators, four poker clubs were discovered in Woodland Park, Totowa, and Garfield, plus multiple illegal gambling machines in Paterson. Offshore betting accounts tied to the same operation were also uncovered.
Woodland Park
Totowa
Garfield
Paterson
Shah’s attorney, Michael DeMarco, insists the councilman is innocent. “We look forward to having our day in court so that the matter can be heard on its merits,” he said in a statement. Shah is set to be arraigned on October 24 and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
attorney
Michael DeMarco
Preparing for November Elections
Despite the indictment, the Democrat, whose third term is about to end soon, has not given up on his plans to run for another three-year term on November 6, sparking controversy among locals.
run for another three-year term
November 6
Dr. Maria Emma Anderson, who is lobbying to be elected to the same position, took it to Facebook to share a picture of Shah with the caption: “This is my opponent: indicted on 18 criminal counts. Make yourself a favor and vote Row B for Council in Prospect Park. You will save the town from paying for his lawyer and giving him free land and no fair property taxes on an enlarged property.”
Dr. Maria Emma Anderson
Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah spoke publicly about the case earlier this year, saying that public officials must be held to the “highest standards of ethics and accountability.”
Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah
The mayor also offered his sympathy to the politician’s family, urging residents not to hurry to judge him.
Attorney General Matthew Platkin drew a parallel of the case with a broader crackdown on illegal gambling, explaining that while technology has changed the way underground betting is done, the motives, “greed and power”, have remained unaltered, continuing to drive the operations.As New Jersey’s legal online casino industry continues to expand, Shah’s case highlights the darker, unregulated side of gambling that authorities are still having a hard time containing.
Attorney General Matthew Platkin
