New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), and the New Jersey State Police held a press conference on Thursday afternoon to announce charges against 14 individuals for their alleged roles in an illegal multimillion-dollar sports betting ring. Members and associates of organized crime were allegedly running it.
The enterprise systematically enticed individuals to place bets. The illicit proceeds were used to operate the enterprise and enrich its members. The membership included unnamed student-athletes, who operated sportsbooks for the Perna enterprise. Between 2022 and 2024, the enterprise transferred approximately $2 million in suspected gambling transactions.
“We may all think that the portrayal of organized crime we remember from movies and television and books no longer exists, but we are announcing charges today that allege it still does,” Platkin said. “Despite the proliferation of legal betting of all kinds, gambling remains a mainstay of members and associates of organized crime.”
According to the press release Joseph M. “Little Joe” Perna, 55, was the head of the illegal operation. Perna, who is identified as a member of organized crime, is charged with his sons, stepson, nephews, and others with racketeering, conspiracy, gambling offenses, and money laundering. Perna’s wife and ex-wife are charged independently of the racketeering scheme.
Like with the recent federal illegal NBA gambling scandal, this case has ties to organized crime, more specifically the Lucchese crime family.
“Today we are alleging that a member and associates of the Lucchese crime family were running a sophisticated sports betting operation,” DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton said. “They are also charged with money laundering and other crimes as part of their racketeering enterprise. We are committed to rooting out these illegal operations and protecting the public from becoming their victims.”
The investigation revealed a nationwide web of bookmakers allegedly operating under the direction of Perna. He acted as the “financier,” who supported the operation.
Perna’s son, Joseph R. Perna, according to the release, is the one who conducted the daily sportsbook operations. This included facilitating dozens of subordinate agents, including his brother Anthony Perna, stepbrother Frank Zito, as well as cousins Dominic Perna and Michael Cetta.
Co-defendants Tyler Schnorrbusch, Nicholas Raimo, Joseph Janish, William Medeiros, Spencer Speziale, and Devon Shuster are alleged high-level agents who managed their own sportsbook within the Perna enterprise.
Medeiros is from Rhode Island and Shuster resides in Florida. All of the other individuals charged are from New Jersey.
Rosanna Magno, who is Joseph M. Perna’s ex-wife, allegedly attempted to conceal what were later determined to be gambling ledgers from police.
Kim Zito – Joseph M. Perna’s wife and Frank Zito’s mother – allegedly received several payments derived from illegal gambling.
According to documents filed in this case, in January 2024, members of the Port Investigations Unit of the NJSP Port Security Section began an investigation into an illegal sports betting enterprise operating out of Essex and Bergen counties.
The Tampa Florida Police Department, the Rhode Island State Police, FBI-Newark, and the Gainesville, Florida Police Department assisted with the investigation.
“The takedown of this organized illegal sports gambling ring underscores our unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal networks that profit from corruption and greed,” Col. Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, said.
If convicted, first-degree crimes carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $200,000.
