Sat Apr 12 06:49:00 UTC 2025: ## Indian-Origin Councilman Among 39 Charged in $3 Million US Gambling Ring
**New York, April 12, 2025** – A New Jersey councilman of Indian origin, Anand Shah, 42, is among 39 individuals indicted on charges of racketeering, money laundering, and gambling offenses in connection with a multi-million dollar illegal gambling operation. The two-year investigation, spearheaded by the New Jersey Attorney General’s office and State Police, uncovered a vast network linked to the Lucchese crime family.
The operation, which allegedly generated over $3 million in illegal proceeds, involved several physical poker clubs disguised as legitimate businesses in northern New Jersey, as well as an extensive online sportsbook using offshore websites. Authorities executed search warrants at 12 locations, seizing gambling machines and related materials.
Another Indian-origin individual, Samir Nadkarni, 48, of Florida, was also charged, serving as a sub-agent for the online sportsbook and hosting poker games. The investigation revealed that the enterprise utilized shell corporations and legitimate businesses to mask its illicit activities and employed threats to collect debts.
“Criminal enterprises like this pose a serious threat to the safety and well-being of our communities,” stated Colonel Patrick Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. The Attorney General’s office emphasized that the enterprise exploited modern technology to perpetuate traditional organized crime methods. The investigation continues.
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