Anand Shah, a council member from Prospect Park, New Jersey, and a local business owner of Indian origin, has been accused of overseeing illegal poker games and operating an online sportsbook in coordination with the notorious Lucchese crime family. The announcement came in a statement issued on Friday by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, as reported by PTI.
Shah is one of 39 individuals who now face charges that include racketeering, illegal gambling, money laundering, and various other criminal offenses. These charges follow an extensive law enforcement operation during which search warrants were executed at 12 different sites across northern New Jersey earlier this week.
Also implicated in the case is Samir Nadkarni, another Indian-origin individual. Nadkarni, aged 48 and a resident of Longwood, Florida, is alleged to have acted as a sportsbook sub-agent and poker host as part of the illegal enterprise.
Authorities have described this crackdown as the result of a two-year investigation focused on unlawful gambling operations linked to the Lucchese organized crime family. The operation culminated in coordinated searches on April 9 at multiple poker clubs, including four located in Totowa, Garfield, and Woodland Park. Notably, two of these poker clubs were concealed behind operational restaurants. In addition to these clubs, law enforcement also raided a business site in Paterson where gambling machines were stored, along with seven residences believed to belong to individuals managing the illicit gambling network.
The investigation revealed the existence of additional underground poker clubs and a wide network of people who allegedly hosted and worked at these venues. Authorities also uncovered involvement in managing bettors through an unlawful online sportsbook. These findings indicate the operation had a much broader reach than initially suspected.
It is believed that the higher levels of management within this gambling syndicate not only supervised the activities but also took a cut of the illegal profits. The operation is said to have generated over $3 million in suspected criminal proceeds, according to the investigation’s findings.
To hide the origins of their illicit earnings, members of the organization reportedly used various shell companies and legitimate-looking businesses. These were intended to disguise the source of funds and provide cover for their operations.
Commenting on the significance of this case, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan stated, “Criminal enterprises like this pose a serious threat to the safety and well-being of our communities, driving illegal gambling, money laundering, and racketeering operations that value profit over people.”
The complaint outlines that the gambling operation relied heavily on social clubs that hosted live poker games and contained gambling machines. Additionally, the operation featured a complex and wide-reaching online sportsbook. This component was facilitated through several websites hosted in foreign countries and allowed bets to be placed from within the United States.
Each poker club reportedly had its own management structure, with high-level overseers assigning day-to-day responsibilities to floor managers who were present during the games. These managers ensured the smooth running of poker sessions and compliance with the group’s internal rules.
The online sportsbook, a key pillar of the criminal enterprise, was operated by individuals known as “agents.” These agents functioned as modern-day equivalents of traditional bookies, setting up user accounts and facilitating bets through the overseas websites. The agents played a central role in enabling illegal sports betting activities across northern New Jersey and possibly even beyond.
Authorities claim that the upper echelon of the group handled major decisions, intervened in disputes, and were involved in using threats and intimidation to recover unpaid gambling debts. According to the charges, these leaders did not hesitate to employ coercive tactics to ensure payment and maintain control over the operations.
The use of the internet and offshore servers significantly expanded the reach of the group’s gambling activities. These websites became the backbone of the operation, enabling traditional organized crime to adapt to modern technology. Despite being based in the digital realm, the crimes committed mirrored the age-old activities of organized crime families.
The official statement described how these websites empowered members and affiliates of traditional organized crime to continue engaging in illicit acts with greater efficiency. “The websites allowed traditional organized crime members and associates to use the internet and current technology to engage in the same criminal acts that traditional organized crime has engaged in since the 19th century,” the statement noted.
While the investigation is still ongoing, the arrests mark a significant blow to illegal gambling networks operating in the region. The authorities believe that dismantling such a vast and deeply entrenched operation will not only help curb unlawful gambling but also reduce the broader impact of organized crime on local communities.
The sweep conducted by law enforcement targeted key areas where the gambling activities were believed to be centered. The poker clubs raided were not openly visible to the public and often disguised themselves as ordinary businesses, such as restaurants or social clubs, to evade detection. This tactic allowed the operation to function under the radar for an extended period.
The complexity of the operation and the use of both physical locations and digital platforms highlight how traditional organized crime groups have evolved. The use of offshore sports betting websites, coupled with old-school poker games hosted in concealed back rooms, demonstrates the hybrid nature of contemporary criminal enterprises.
In total, 39 individuals now face serious charges that could lead to lengthy prison sentences if convicted. These individuals are believed to have played various roles in the network, ranging from direct involvement in hosting games to managing bettors and collecting debts. Each participant contributed to what investigators are calling one of the more sophisticated illegal gambling rings discovered in recent years.
The outcome of this case could have broader implications for how law enforcement addresses organized crime in the digital age. With the increasing use of technology in criminal activities, agencies may need to adapt their strategies and tools to keep pace with such operations.
As for Anand Shah and Samir Nadkarni, their alleged involvement in this criminal scheme has not only brought them into the legal spotlight but also raised questions about how deeply embedded such operations can become in seemingly respectable segments of society.
The charges and investigation underscore the ongoing challenge of combating organized crime, especially when it intersects with both public institutions and the digital world.