A councilman for New York’s Prospect Park has been indicted on 18 expenses associated to an unlawful playing ring.
Council President Anand Shah has been indicted on 18 expenses 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 expenses of official misconduct, extortion, and third-degree tampering with public information. Readwrite has contacted the New Jersey Legal professional Normal’s Workplace to substantiate whether or not the indictment expenses are right.
Shah is about to finish his third time period as a Democrat councilman, whereas at the moment searching for assist for one more three-year council time period forward of the final election on November 4. In line with his lawyer, Michael DeMarco, Shah intends to defend his innocence.
The councilman is scheduled to seem in entrance of state Superior Courtroom Decide 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 choose.
The councilman’s alleged involvement within the unlawful playing ring
The alleged unlawful playing ring is alleged to have hosted unlicensed poker video games and used an abroad sportsbook to position unlicensed sports activities bets. These actions are alleged to have introduced in lots of of hundreds of {dollars}, laundered by way of shell corporations.
Allegations have been introduced towards 42 defendants, together with Shah and members of the Lucchese crime household. A 78-page indictment doc outlines the entire expenses towards all of the co-defendants.
At the moment we’ve charged 39 individuals, 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.
For those who break the legislation, in the event you damage New Jersey, you can be delivered to justice. pic.twitter.com/AgjjlEOQgY
— Legal professional Normal Matt Platkin (@NewJerseyOAG) April 11, 2025
When it comes to what punishment Shah might face if discovered responsible, the second-degree misconduct cost alongside might end in a 10-year jail sentence, whereas others might result in substantial fines.
Different allegations levelled towards Shah within the doc embody: claiming that the councilman “threatened to inflict bodily harm” 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 Fb that he had been launched from Morris County Jail on Could 30, following his detention since April 9, 2025. His Legal professional Michael P. DeMarco, Esq. mentioned in an announcement on the time: “Mr. Shah is deeply grateful for the Appellate Division’s determination and eagerly anticipates his day in courtroom, the place he’ll vigorously defend towards the State’s expenses and clear his beforehand unblemished identify and popularity.”
Featured picture: Anand Shah through Fb
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