A suspected mafia member and several other relations in New Jersey are among 14 individuals charged Thursday in connection with an alleged multi-million greenback illegal playing ring involving scholar athletes.
Joseph M. “Little Joe” Perna, 55, an alleged member of the Lucchese crime household, was charged with racketeering, conspiracy, playing offenses, and cash laundering, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office mentioned in an announcement.
Police and prosecutors allege {that a} “nationwide web” of bookmakers was directed by Joseph M. Perna, underneath the day by day path of his son, Joseph R. Perna, 25, who’s charged with running dozens of what authorities known as “subordinate agents.”
Several of these alleged brokers had been additionally charged, together with one other of Joseph Perna’s sons, Anthony R. Perna, 23; Perna’s stepson Frank Zito, 23; Perna’s nephews Dominic Perna, 23 and Michael Cetta, 23.
“Today we are alleging that a member and associates of the Lucchese crime family were running a sophisticated sports betting operation,” said New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice director Theresa L. Hilton in a statement.
Betting operations allegedly run by student athletes, as well as offshore gambling websites, “systematically enticed people to put bets” totaling $2 million between 2022 and 2024, which was distributed throughout the criminal network, according to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
“Despite the proliferation of authorized betting of all types, playing stays a mainstay of members and associates of organized crime,” New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin mentioned in an announcement. “The areas and strategies could have developed, however illegal playing — in this case, sports betting — stays an issue, and we are going to cost those that search to revenue from it.”
The charges come after alleged associates of the Lucchese, alongside other crime families, were named in a federal indictment last month in connection with multimillion-dollar rigged poker games. Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former NBA journeyman Damon Jones were also charged in connection with the alleged scheme.
Billups’ attorney denied his client’s involvement in the criminal scheme; Rozier denies any involvement, and his attorney said he “seems ahead” to preventing the case, whereas Jones pleaded not guilty in courtroom final week.
Earlier this month, charges were separately brought in opposition to MLB pitchers Luis Ortiz and his Cleveland Guardians teammate Emmanuel Clase for allegedly taking bribes linked to playing — each males deny the fees.
“Little Joe” is allegedly part of the Luchese crime family and acted as the head and “financier” of the operation, authorities say. The criminal complaint against him listed six charges.
NBC News has contacted attorneys for six of the accused for whom defense counsel details are available.
Joseph M. Perna’s legal professional, Thomas Cataldo, informed NBC Philadelphia: “On behalf of my consumer, he denies all of the allegations set forth in the Complaint. I don’t have sufficient data but to touch upon the proof, apart from to say he’s not responsible.”
An attorney for Joseph R. Perna said that his client “seems ahead to confronting the false allegations in opposition to him in a courtroom of legislation.”
An attorney for Cetta declined to comment.
Joseph M. Perna’s wife, Kim Zito, 53, is charged with allegedly receiving multiple payments from the scheme. Joseph M. Perna’s ex-wife, Rosanna Magno, 52, is accused of allegedly trying to conceal gambling ledgers from police during a traffic stop. Both were charged independently of the alleged racketeering scheme.
The fees are so complicated that the legal professional basic’s workplace provided a five-page chart to assist reporters perceive them.
New Jersey State Police began their investigation in January 2024 into alleged illegal gambling in Essex and Bergen counties.
“These racketeering operations exploit weak people and communities, and right this moment’s fees ship a transparent message — we are going to proceed to guard victims and pursue justice wherever organized crime takes root,” Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, mentioned in an announcement.