Murphy Joins Push For Embattled NJ Councilman To Step Down Immediately

PROSPECT PARK, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy and Prospect Park officials have called for the borough's council president to resign, following his arrest last week in an investigation tied to the Lucchese crime family.

On Friday, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin's office announced charges against Councilman Anand Shah and 38 other people after a two-year probe into an illegal gambling operation in North Jersey. The defendants all face charges of racketeering, gambling offenses, money laundering, and other crimes.

Shah, who is up for re-election this year, is accused of managing illegal poker games and an online sportsbook in association with the Lucchese family.

A spokesperson for Murphy said he believes it would be "in the community's best interest" for Shah, 42, to resign immediately.

“While the investigation into Councilman Shah is still ongoing, the allegations are concerning and call into question his ability to effectively serve the Prospect Park community," said Maggie Garbarino, deputy press secretary for the governor's office.

On Monday, Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah and other council members also called on Shah to step down, and to withdraw his nomination for re-election.

"This request does not come without careful consideration," officials wrote. We acknowledge and deeply appreciate Councilman Shah’s years of service and his unwavering dedication to the residents of Prospect Park."

"However, the seriousness of the charges brought against him has created an unfortunate and ongoing distraction from the vital work we are elected to do on behalf of the community," their statement continued. "Our foremost responsibility is to protect the integrity of our government and maintain the trust of the public."

An email sent to Shah seeking comment was not immediately returned Tuesday morning.

The investigation centered around illegal social clubs and online sportsbooks, which were operated by high-level members of the criminal enterprise, officials charged. Managers were responsible for day-to-day operations of the social clubs, which housed live poker games and had illegal gambling machines, according to officials.

The managers would reportedly collect "rent" money from the poker club hosts, who were in turn responsible for recruiting players, financially staking the games, and supplying food and drinks. Officials said the online gambling portion was operated by "agents" who created accounts on foreign-based websites, then worked with individual bettors.

"Sub-agents and agents were responsible for the gambling winnings and losses of bettors in their packages and kicked up a portion of the criminal proceeds to the high-level management of the enterprise," officials said.

These high-level members would also use threats to collect overdue debts, the AG's office said.

Authorities said they raided four poker clubs in Passaic and Bergen counties, two of which were hidden in the back rooms of functioning restaurants, on Wednesday, April 9. Law enforcement also searched a business in Paterson that was storing gambling machines, and the homes of seven people who are accused of being involved in the operation.

The AG's office identified Garden Pinball in Paterson, Italian American Soccer Club in Totowa, Cafe San Gennaro in Woodland Park, and Cafe Rio in Garfield as businesses connected to the gambling ring.

Read more — NJ Councilman Among 39 Charged In Probe Tied To Lucchese Crime Family