Indian-origin US politician Anand Shah pleads guilty in illegal gambling case; earned $900,000, used it to fund campaign

An Indian-origin US politician in New Jersey has been permanently barred from holding public office after admitting his role in an illegal gambling operation linked to the Lucchese crime family, which prosecutors said earned him about $900,000.Anand Shah, 44, a councilman in the Borough of Prospect Park, pleaded guilty to racketeering, money laundering and official misconduct. He resigned from the council on Friday after his plea became public and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced.Under his plea agreement, Shah faces up to 10 years in state prison. He must also forfeit his public position and is permanently disqualified from holding public office in New Jersey.According to the NJ Attorney General's Office, Shah worked as a sportsbook agent and poker manager for an illegal gambling network that operated in restaurants across Morris, Passaic and Bergen counties between January 2017 and August 2023.Shah hosted illegal poker games, worked with subagents, and collected “rakes,” a portion taken by the operator from poker games. Prosecutors said the operation generated $900,084 for him.He also admitted using proceeds from ...