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Councilman Anand Shah is facing serious legal trouble after being indicted last week on 18 criminal charges tied to an alleged illegal gambling ring that operated across several North Jersey towns.
Shah was first arrested in April following a months-long investigation into underground poker clubs and offshore sports betting operations. Prosecutors allege that Shah helped oversee a network that generated more than $3 million in illegal proceeds and operated outside the state’s regulated gaming system.
Among the most serious counts in the indictment are first-degree money laundering and racketeering. State investigators say Shah profited from an organized gambling enterprise that sidestepped state oversight — a striking irony in a state known for its legal and well-regulated online casinos and sportsbooks.
Prosecutors outline $3M illegal NJ gambling scheme
The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office filed a 78-page indictment detailing several new charges, including second-degree official misconduct, theft by extortion, and third-degree tampering with public records.
According to prosecutors, these counts stem from allegations that Shah used his public office to conceal the operation and obstruct oversight. Investigators say they discovered four poker clubs in Woodland Park, Totowa, and Garfield, along with multiple illegal gambling machines in Paterson. They also uncovered offshore betting accounts linked to the operation.
Shah’s attorney has maintained his client’s innocence, saying the councilman intends to fight every charge. “We look forward to having our day in court so that the matter can be heard on its merits,” the lawyer said in a prepared statement.
Shah is scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 24. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison, depending on the adjudication of the counts.
Despite the growing legal pressure, Shah still plans to seek another three-year term on the Prospect Park Borough Council in November — though the indictment casts a shadow over his campaign and political standing.
Prospect Park leaders call for accountability
Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah publicly addressed the indictment, emphasizing that elected officials must be held to the highest ethical standards.
“While we do not yet know the full scope or outcome of the legal process ahead, I want to reaffirm that this administration holds all public officials to the highest standards of ethics and accountability,” Khairullah said earlier this year.
He also expressed sympathy for Shah’s family and urged residents to allow due process to play out.
“This is clearly a difficult period for Councilman Shah’s family and those close to him. I urge everyone to let the legal process take its course without speculation,” he added.
Khairullah’s comments reflect a town caught between political loyalty and growing unease over allegations that one of its own may have misused public trust.
As NJ online casinos grow, state cracks down on illegal gambling
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin has pointed to the Shah case as part of a wider shift in how gambling-related crimes operate in the digital age.
He said that while illegal gambling once revolved around local poker rooms and physical betting spots, many modern networks now rely on online platforms and offshore accounts — making them more difficult to trace and prosecute.
“Technology has changed the game,” Platkin said in April. “But the motives haven’t — greed and power continue to drive these operations.”
The attorney general’s office has stepped up investigations into unlicensed betting networks even as the state’s legal gambling industry grows. New Jersey’s online casinos, overseen by the Division of Gaming Enforcement, are regarded as one of the most robust in the country — offering players consumer protections, responsible gaming tools, and financial transparency.
Illegal operations, by contrast, often connect to tax evasion, money laundering, and organized crime. Officials have repeatedly warned that underground gambling threatens not only players but also the credibility of the legal gaming industry that has become a vital part of the state’s economy.
Shah’s case fuels debate on NJ online casinos and ethics
The coming months could define both Shah’s future and Prospect Park’s political landscape. Prosecutors are expected to present new evidence — including financial records and witness testimony — as the case advances.
For now, Shah remains both a sitting councilman and an active candidate. Whether voters will back him amid the criminal allegations remains uncertain.
The case underscores a larger tension in New Jersey politics: even as the state promotes legal and responsible gambling, illicit operations continue to emerge behind the scenes. State officials say they remain determined to root out such schemes to protect the integrity of New Jersey’s legal market — and to restore public trust where it’s been shaken.
