Poker Writer
New Jersey politician Anand Shah was permanently barred from holding public office after admitting he was involved in an illegal gambling ring with ties to the Lucchese crime family.
The 44-year-old used the funds he earned from the ties to finance his political campaigns. He ran for and served as the Insurance and Finance councilmember for the borough of Prospect Park in New Jersey.
The state announced that Shah had admitted his role in the schemes.
“The defendant not only broke the law, but he then used criminal proceeds to fund his political campaign,” the state attorney general said. “Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that no one is above the law.”
Authorities charged Shah with a variety of crimes, including racketeering and money laundering. He could face up to as many as 10 years in prison and must serve at least 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
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Shah Had Poker Involvement
The authorities have been clamping down on the Lucchese crime family in the last two years. Thus far, at least eight people have admitted their roles in gambling operations.
Shah’s connection to the infamous family came through his role as the poker manager and sportsbook agent in restaurants in New Jersey. This role lasted from 2017 through 2023. His money laundering occurred across three counties in the Garden State: Morris, Passaic, and Bergen.
The poker games were run by the Lucchese family. Investigators established that 42 people were connected to the illegal games after authorities raided four illegal poker clubs in April 2025. The games collected rake and operated with subagents.
Shah remained in office even after his indictment in April 2025 despite the calls for him to step down.
Organized Crime in NJ
Shah is far from the only prominent individual involved in nefarious affairs in the Garden State. Department of Criminal Justice Director Theresa Hilton talked about the problem in the state:
Traditional organized crime remains a real problem in New Jersey. 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.
As much as $4.79 million in suspected criminal proceeds was identified throughout the two-year investigation. The amount attributed to Shah was a smidge more than $900,000.
The Lucchese Crime Family is an Italian-American Mafia syndicate and one of the “five families” in the greater New York City area.
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