Anand U. Shah, 44, of Prospect Park, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today before Superior Court Judge Ralph E. Amirata in Morris County to first-degree racketeering, first-degree money laundering, and second-degree official misconduct. Under terms of the plea agreement, the state will recommend a sentence of 10 years in state prison, of which 85 percent must be served before parole eligibility. Shah must also forfeit his public office and is permanently barred from holding public office. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 4, 2026.

“Public officials have a special duty to ensure that they follow the law,” said Attorney General Davenport. “The defendant not only broke the law, but he then used criminal proceeds to fund his political campaign. Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that no one is above the law.”

“Traditional organized crime remains a real problem in New Jersey,” said DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton. “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.”

Shah functioned as a sportsbook agent/poker manager in the operation. At his plea hearing, Shad admitted that he conspired with other members of the enterprise and committed repeated acts of gambling and money laundering in Morris, Passaic, and Bergen counties. Shah admitted that he had subagents under him and managed and controlled financial transactions and caused others to direct portions of funds derived from criminal activity to his campaign for his position as Councilman.

Shah admitted that he acted as a poker manager and host in illegal poker clubs where a “rake” -- a percentage of the monies bet by the players as a profit for the house for each hand played – was collected, and acted as agent with dozens of subagents under him on sportsbook. From January 2017 to August 2023, the criminal proceeds directly attributable to Shah totaled $900,084. Shah admitted that he had individuals who owed him gambling debts contribute to his campaign in lieu of paying the debt and would forgive their balance of debt if they donated to the campaign.

Shah is one of 42 people who have been indicted since the initial arrests in April 2025 following a two-year investigation into illegal gambling, loansharking, extortion, and money laundering tied to the Lucchese crime family. Earlier this year, eight people admitted their roles in operating illegal poker games and an online sportsbook in association with the Lucchese crime family. Between October 2025 and August 2026, 38 other people have previously pleaded guilty with respect to their conduct in the gambling enterprise.

The leadership of the New Jersey-based faction of the Lucchese family allegedly oversaw the gambling activities and received a portion of the criminal proceeds. The investigation resulted in the identification of $4.79 million in suspected criminal proceeds. Members of the criminal enterprise used multiple shell corporations and legitimate businesses to conceal their illegal gambling proceeds.

Charges are still pending against two remaining defendants, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Deputy Attorney General Heather Hausleben is prosecuting the case for DCJ. The case was investigated by Detective Sergeant Michael Gallant of the New Jersey State Police. Attorney General Davenport thanked the FBI New Jersey – Newark and Red Bank, FBI New York City, U.S. Marshals, Federal Probation, and the Department of Corrections Special Operations Group for their valuable contributions to the investigation.