A councilman for New York’s Prospect Park has been indicted on 18 prices associated to an unlawful playing ring.
Council President Anand Shah has been indicted on 18 prices associated to allegedly collaborating in an unlawful playing ring, together with a number of counts of cash laundering and racketeering within the first diploma and second diploma prices of official misconduct, extortion, and third-degree tampering with public information. Readwrite has contacted the New Jersey Lawyer Basic’s Workplace to substantiate whether or not the indictment prices are appropriate.
Shah is about to finish his third time period as a Democrat councilman, whereas presently searching for help for one more three-year council time period forward of the overall election on November 4. In accordance with his legal professional, Michael DeMarco, Shah intends to defend his innocence.
The councilman is scheduled to look in entrance of state Superior Courtroom Choose Ralph Amirata in Morristown on October 24 for his post-indictment arraignment, the place he’s anticipated to formally enter his plea. After being arrested again in April, Shah was held on the Morris County jail for seven weeks earlier than being granted launch by a decide.
The councilman’s alleged involvement within the unlawful playing ring
The alleged unlawful playing ring is alleged to have hosted unlicensed poker games and used an abroad sportsbook to position unlicensed sports bets. These actions are alleged to have introduced in lots of of hundreds of {dollars}, laundered by means of shell firms.
Allegations have been introduced in opposition to 42 defendants, together with Shah and members of the Lucchese crime household. A 78-page indictment document outlines the whole prices in opposition to all of the co-defendants.
Right this moment we’ve charged 39 folks, together with a sitting councilman. The message is obvious – we’re bringing each useful resource to bear to crack down on violent criminals, together with organized crime.
When you break the regulation, in case you damage New Jersey, you can be delivered to justice. pic.twitter.com/AgjjlEOQgY
— Lawyer Basic Matt Platkin (@NewJerseyOAG) April 11, 2025
When it comes to what punishment Shah may face if discovered responsible, the second-degree misconduct cost alongside may lead to a 10-year jail sentence, whereas others may result in substantial fines.
Different allegations levelled in opposition to Shah within the doc embody: claiming that the councilman “threatened to inflict bodily damage” on “a number of victims” owed cash from the playing actions; allegedly falsifying a monetary disclosure assertion; and never paying gross earnings taxes, a third-degree crime, for six straight years between April 2019 and 2025.
In July, Shah wrote on Facebook that he had been launched from Morris County Jail on Could 30, following his detention since April 9, 2025. His Lawyer Michael P. DeMarco, Esq. stated in an announcement on the time: “Mr. Shah is deeply grateful for the Appellate Division’s determination and eagerly anticipates his day in court docket, the place he’ll vigorously defend in opposition to the State’s prices and clear his beforehand unblemished identify and repute.”
Featured picture: Anand Shah by way of Facebook
The submit New York councilman Anand Shah indicted on 18 charges related to illegal gambling appeared first on ReadWrite.
