A councilman for New York’s Prospect Park has been indicted on 18 costs associated to an unlawful playing ring.
Council President Anand Shah has been indicted on 18 costs 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 costs of official misconduct, extortion, and third-degree tampering with public information. Readwrite has contacted the New Jersey Lawyer Normal’s Workplace to verify whether or not the indictment costs are right.
Shah is about to finish his third time period as a Democrat councilman, whereas presently in search of help for an additional three-year council time period forward of the final election on November 4. In keeping with his lawyer, Michael DeMarco, Shah intends to defend his innocence.
The councilman is scheduled to look in entrance of state Superior Court docket 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 tons 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 doc outlines the entire costs in opposition to all of the co-defendants.
Immediately we’ve charged 39 folks, together with a sitting councilman. The message is evident – we’re bringing each useful resource to bear to crack down on violent criminals, together with organized crime.
For those who break the regulation, if you happen to damage New Jersey, you may be delivered to justice. pic.twitter.com/AgjjlEOQgY
— Lawyer 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 lead to a 10-year jail sentence, whereas others might result in substantial fines.
Different allegations levelled in opposition to 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 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 Might 30, following his detention since April 9, 2025. His Lawyer Michael P. DeMarco, Esq. stated in a press release 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 costs and clear his beforehand unblemished title and popularity.”
Featured picture: Anand Shah through Fb
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