NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A significant crackdown on illegal gambling in New Jersey has resulted in serious charges against a high-ranking member of the Lucchese crime family and a local town council member, alongside 39 other individuals. New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin announced on Friday that this extensive two-year investigation has unveiled an illegal gambling ring focused on poker and sports betting operations across the state.
The primary figures in this investigation are George Zappola, identified as a top member of the Lucchese organized crime family, and Anand Shah, a councilmember from Prospect Park. Both Zappola and Shah are among the 39 individuals charged with racketeering and various other offenses. During the investigation, law enforcement discovered four illegal poker clubs situated in Totowa, Garfield, Woodland Park, and Paterson, where numerous gambling machines were reportedly stored.
Authorities stated that Shah managed these illegal poker games and operated an online sports book, although he is not facing any official misconduct charges related to his position in public office. The Attorney General elaborated that the gambling ring generated over $3 million in “criminal proceeds,” utilizing several shell corporations and other businesses to obscure the earnings derived from these illicit activities.
Platkin emphasized the stark difference between the glamorized portrayal of organized crime in media and its harsh reality, stating, “Romanticized versions of organized crime have been the subject of countless movies and television shows, often set right here in the Garden State. But the reality isn’t romantic or cinematic. It’s about breaking the laws the rest of us follow.”
According to the criminal complaint, the illegal operations comprised social clubs that hosted poker games and included gambling machines. Additionally, an online sportsbook was established, operating through international websites. High-level criminal managers assigned the day-to-day operations to on-site managers who were present during poker games, overseeing the collection of "rent" from poker hosts for allowing these games to occur.
New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Pat Callahan described the investigation as a comprehensive effort that involved collaboration between state and federal law enforcement agencies. He further asserted the commitment to holding accountable those who believe they can operate above the law without consequences. “Everyone’s got to be held accountable who think that they are above the law and that they’re not going to get caught,” Callahan stated.
