Anand Shah, a 42-year-old Indian-origin municipal councillor from New Jersey, has been charged in connection with a sprawling mafia-linked gambling operation, according to New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin.

Shah is among 39 individuals accused of racketeering, gambling offenses, money laundering, and other crimes. The charges follow a series of raids across 12 locations in New Jersey, including four illegal poker clubs.

Another Indian-origin individual, Samir S. Nadkarni, 48, from Longwood, Florida, was also implicated and identified as a “sportsbook sub-agent/poker host.”

Shah, who was serving his second term as a municipal councillor in Prospect Park, a New York City suburb, held key responsibilities in finance, economic development, and insurance. His involvement has added to growing public distrust, with Attorney General Platkin commenting: “The arrest of a sitting council member only adds fuel to that fire.”

Authorities allege Shah managed illegal poker games and an online sportsbook in partnership with the Lucchese Crime Family, a notorious Italian-American mafia organization known for its deep-rooted criminal network and influence.

Sportsbook gambling refers to betting on various sports events and matches. According to Platkin’s office, the criminal enterprise generated approximately $3 million, operating out of social clubs and behind the façade of legitimate businesses such as restaurants. The network also reportedly utilized illegal gambling machines.

Platkin emphasized the real dangers of organized crime: “While mob activity has been romanticised in movies and television, the reality isn’t romantic or cinematic. It’s about breaking the laws the rest of us follow — and ultimately, it’s about money, control, and the threat of violence.”