NJ Councilman Faces 18 Charges in Illegal Gambling Case

NJ councilman Anand Shah has been indicted on multiple charges tied to an illegal gambling ring, raising questions about ethics and oversight in politicsImage Source: Shuttersstock.com

Councilman Anand Shahhas been hit with 18 criminal charges connected to what prosecutors say was a multimillion-dollar illegal gambling ringrunning through several towns in 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. 

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.

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.

Investigators allege that Shah used his position on the Prospect Park Borough Council to protect the operation and interfere with oversight.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullahspoke publicly about the case earlier this year, saying that public officials must be held to the “highest standards of ethics and accountability.” 

The mayor also offered his sympathy to the politician’s family, urging residents not to hurry to judge him.

Attorney General Matthew Platkindrew 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.