New Jersey prosecutors have announced charges against 14 individuals linked to a multimillion-dollar illegal sports betting enterprise allegedly directed by members and associates of the Lucchese crime family. According to authorities, the operation was led and financed by Joseph M. “Little Joe” Perna, a known organized crime figure who, along with several relatives, coordinated the scheme across Essex and Bergen counties. The investigation revealed that the enterprise recruited student athletes to operate illegal sportsbooks, raising significant integrity concerns for the broader sports landscape.
Officials reported that the organization systematically enticed individuals to place illegal wagers, with the proceeds used to maintain and expand the criminal enterprise. Between 2022 and 2024, the group allegedly moved approximately $2 million in illicit gambling transactions. Prosecutors emphasized that the persistence of illegal betting activity underscores the continued influence of organized crime, even with regulated sports wagering widely available across the United States.
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin stated that illegal gambling remains a core activity for organized crime groups, warning that evolving methods continue to pose challenges for law enforcement. The charges include racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering, and gambling offences. Additional charges were filed against Perna’s wife and ex-wife for separate criminal matters unrelated to the main racketeering case.
Investigators from the New Jersey State Police and the Division of Criminal Justice highlighted the sophistication of the betting enterprise, noting that the takedown reflects a wider effort to dismantle criminal networks that profit from corruption and exploitation. Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to protecting communities from illegal gambling operations and disrupting organized crime’s influence within the sports betting ecosystem.
