Synopsis
An Indian-origin municipal councillor, Anand Shah, has been charged with involvement in a mafia-run gambling operation in New Jersey. The operation, linked to the notorious Lucchese Crime Family, also involved money laundering and illegal betting activities.Key Takeaways
- Indian-origin councillor charged in gambling case.
- Involvement with the Lucchese Crime Family.
- Charges include racketeering and money laundering.
- Operation estimated to be worth $3 million.
- Shah served as a municipal councillor in New Jersey.
New York, April 12 (NationPress) An Indian-origin municipal councillor has been accused of involvement in a mafia-run gambling operation, as reported by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin.
Anand Shah, aged 42, was among 39 individuals charged with racketeering, gambling offenses, money laundering, and other crimes, Platkin announced on Friday.
The charges followed law enforcement raids at 12 locations across the state, which included 4 poker clubs.
Another individual of Indian descent, Samir S Nadkarni, aged 48, from Longwood, Florida, was also charged and identified as a sportsbook sub-agent/poker host.
Shah was a prominent politician in New Jersey, serving his second term as a municipal councillor in Prospect Park, a suburb of New York, overseeing finance, economic development, and insurance.
Platkin remarked, “The arrest of a sitting council member only adds fuel to that fire” of public distrust towards elected officials.
Shah was singled out for allegedly managing illegal poker games and an online sportsbook linked to the Lucchese Crime Family, according to statements from Platkin’s office.
The Lucchese Crime Family is notorious among Italian-American mafia organizations in the US and collaborates with individuals from various ethnic backgrounds.
Sportsbook gambling pertains to betting on sports events.
According to authorities, the gambling enterprise was estimated to be worth $3 million.
Platkin noted that while mob activities are often “romanticised” in films and television, “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.”
Officials indicated that the gambling operations were conducted from social clubs or hidden behind legitimate businesses like restaurants and also involved gambling machines.
