NJ politician, alleged Lucchese members arrested in illegal gambling operation
A high-ranking member of the Lucchese crime family, a town council member, and more than three dozen others are facing racketeering and related charges after a two-year investigation into an illegal gambling ring, New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin announced Friday.
George Zappola, identified by Platkin as a top member of the Lucchese organized crime family, and Prospect Park councilmember Anand Shah are among the 39 individuals charged. Authorities say the case centers on illegal poker games and sports betting operations.
Four illegal poker clubs were discovered in Totowa, Garfield, Woodland Park, and Paterson, where gambling machines were also stored. According to law enforcement, Shah managed illegal poker games and an online sportsbook. He is not facing charges of official misconduct in connection with his position as a public official.
Platkin said the gambling operation generated more than $3 million in criminal proceeds. Shell corporations and various businesses were used to hide earnings from the illegal activity.
The criminal complaint outlines that the operations included social clubs hosting poker games and gambling machines, as well as an online sportsbook run through websites based outside the U.S. High-level managers delegated day-to-day operations to on-site managers who were present during poker games. These managers collected “rent” from poker hosts and oversaw workers at the clubs.
An email was sent to Zappola’s attorney, while a phone number listed for Shah had a full voicemail box. An email sent to Shah was not immediately returned.
Platkin commented on the case by highlighting the disconnect between the popular portrayal of organized crime and its true nature. “Romanticized versions of organized crime have been the subject of countless movies and television shows, often set right here in the Garden State,” he said. “But the reality isn’t romantic or cinematic. It’s about breaking the laws the rest of us follow.”
New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Pat Callahan called the investigation a massive undertaking involving both state and federal officials. “Everyone’s got to be held accountable who think that they are above the law and that they’re not going to get caught,” he said.
(Original source here)
