According to New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, authorities conducted a two-year investigation into a well-organized gambling network that generated millions of dollars in revenue and was operated by individuals associated with the Lucchese crime family. The organization ran unlicensed live poker tournaments and hosted online sports betting platforms on foreign servers.
Alongside members linked to the crime syndicate, a New Jersey municipal councilman was also implicated. A total of 39 individuals have been charged.
The network allegedly attempted to conceal its profits through shell companies and international online platforms. The poker games were held in back rooms of restaurants and private clubs, primarily in the areas of Totowa, Garfield, and Woodland Park.
Authorities were clear in their statement:
”This was not a backyard betting pool, this was a highly structured, highly profitable criminal enterprise run by people who believed they were above the law.”
Who Are the Lucchese Crime Family?
The Lucchese family is one of the notorious Five Families of New York and a prominent figure in the history of American organized crime. Founded in the 1920s, its headquarters are located in the Bronx and Manhattan, though over the decades its operations have expanded as far as New Jersey and Florida.
The family is named after Tommy Lucchese, who assumed leadership after World War II and played a key role in modernizing the organization. Under his command, the Lucchese family became one of the most structured and influential mafia groups in the United States.
Its criminal activities have included murder, extortion, drug trafficking, and illegal gambling—a sector in which the group remains notably active today, including operating underground poker clubs and online betting platforms.
A Councilman Among the Accused
Perhaps the most shocking aspect of the case is the involvement of Anand Shah, a sitting member of the Prospect Park Borough Council. Authorities claim Shah played an active role in organizing the illegal poker events and managing the online sports betting operations.
Shah faces charges of racketeering, money laundering, and conspiracy.
Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed T. Khairullah issued a statement saying that while the allegations do not relate directly to Shah’s duties as a councilman, the municipal leadership will fully cooperate with law enforcement.
Known Criminal Figures Also Charged
Several known criminals are among the 39 defendants. These include 56-year-old Joseph R. Perna, a captain in the Lucchese family, and 65-year-old George J. Zappola, considered part of the group’s leadership. Also charged are 47-year-old John G. Perna and 75-year-old Wayne D. Cross, who allegedly served as “soldiers” within the organization.
The suspects face charges including:
- First-degree racketeering
- Second-degree conspiracy
- Money laundering
- Running illegal gambling operations
The arrests were carried out in a coordinated operation between local law enforcement and the FBI, following extensive preparation. Authorities conducted searches at several illegal poker clubs and business premises, seizing gambling machines, documents, and other evidence.
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