Mafia-Backed Betting Ring Uncovered in New Jersey
Authorities in New Jersey have charged fourteen individuals, including two former Rutgers University wrestlers and a newly certified NBA agent, for their alleged roles in a sophisticated illegal sports betting operation. The scheme, which authorities claim was backed by the Lucchese crime family, was unveiled on Thursday through complaints filed by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin.
The $2 Million Operation and Its Key Players
The complaints, lodged in Bergen and Essex Counties, detail an online sports betting ring that handled approximately $2 million in wagers. Among the accused is an alleged Lucchese soldier, Joseph 'Little Joe' Perna, who is suspected of acting as a financier. The operation reportedly involved his sons, Joseph R. Perna and Anthony Perna, their cousin Dominic, and a network of college-age acquaintances.
Notably, the charges extend to family members, including the elder Perna's wife, Kim, her son Frank, and his ex-wife, Rosanna Magno. The charges levelled against the group are severe, encompassing racketeering, money laundering, and bookmaking.
Attorney General Platkin emphasised the persistent threat of organised crime in gambling, stating, 'Despite the wide availability of legal sports betting, illegal gambling remains among members and associates of organised crime today.'
GenZ Gamblers and High-Profile Co-Defendants
Platkin described the network as being carried out by 'GenZ gamblers' and a web of subagents recruited from among Perna's sons and their high school and college friends. This group includes former Rutgers wrestlers Michael Cetta and Nicholas Raimo. Raimo had a distinguished high school career, being a two-time New Jersey state wrestling champion.
Another co-defendant, Spencer Speziale, is an agent newly certified by the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA). It is currently unclear if Speziale represents any NBA players.
This case emerges amidst a broader FBI investigation that recently led to 30 arrests, including prominent NBA figures such as Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, though Platkin did not connect those cases directly to this one.
The New Jersey operation allegedly relied on offshore websites to systematically entice people to place bets. Several defendants, including Raimo and Speziale, have been released after their initial court appearances, with potential detention hearings scheduled for a later date.
Legal representatives for some of the accused have begun to respond. An attorney for Joseph R. Perna stated his client looks forward to confronting the 'false allegations,' while Nicholas Raimo's lawyer declared his client 'innocent of the charges.'
