16 Apr 2025 Last week, authorities in New Jersey detained dozens of individuals on suspicion of having ties to the notorious Lucchese criminal family, who were accused of running underground poker games. A Politician in the Spotlight One of the 37 people arrested is Anand Shah, a municipal councilman. The others are accused of being mafia members who allegedly conducted their businesses out of backrooms at restaurants around the state. It is believed that the 42-year-old Shah oversaw the illicit poker games. The politician and Prospect Park resident is well-known in the business world, owning many Subway and Papa John's Pizza shops. Ties to Illegal Sports-Betting Operations At a press conference on Friday, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin stated that Shah, in addition to managing the poker games, assisted the criminal family in running an online sportsbook. Platkin clarified that he was well aware of how the public viewed the elected officials of New Jersey and pointed out that many people lacked confidence in their public leaders and political institutions. He said that the arrest of a municipal council member further fuels that feeling more negatively. Profits, Raids, and a Two-Year Investigation An estimated $3 million was made by the illicit poker ring. Raids on four underground poker establishments associated with the Lucchese family brought an end to a two-year police investigation on Wednesday. The head of the Division of Criminal Justice, Theresa Hilton, said the operation was a very successful crime ring run by people who thought they were above the law and had a well-organized structure. Since the 1920s, members of the Lucchese family have continued the criminal tradition that has made them famous across New Jersey and New York. Among the notable individuals apprehended is George "Georgie Neck" Zappola, whom authorities suspect to be a member of the Lucchese ruling tribunal. Thirty-nine people are facing charges of various offenses, including first-degree racketeering and second-degree conspiracy. Platkin noted that organized crime might look different in 2025 than fifty years ago because of the internet's role. He claimed that technological advancements could have changed the operations, but the motive remained the same: greedy, influential individuals who think they're above the law. Authorities assert that upper-level officials with ties to the criminal family entrusted lower-level managers with day-to-day operations and collected fees from illicit poker game hosts. The hosts would collect rake from the games and were responsible for player recruitment. Those found guilty face decades of incarceration. The racketeering offense alone carries a maximum sentence of twenty years.
