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 data. 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 at present searching for assist for one more three-year council time period forward of the overall election on November 4. In line with his lawyer, 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 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 a whole lot of 1000’s of {dollars}, laundered via 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 prices towards all of the co-defendants.
Immediately 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.
If you happen to break the regulation, in the event you harm New Jersey, you may be dropped at justice. pic.twitter.com/AgjjlEOQgY
— Lawyer Basic Matt Platkin (@NewJerseyOAG) April 11, 2025
By way of 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 embrace: 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 revenue 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 Might 30, following his detention since April 9, 2025. His Lawyer 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 prices and clear his beforehand unblemished identify and repute.”
Featured picture: Anand Shah by way of Fb
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