The New Jersey State Police (NJSP) and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced charges against 14 people who were involved in an alleged sports betting ring with ties to organized crime. New Jersey police charged state resident Joseph M. “Little Joe” Perna with racketeering conspiracy, gambling offenses and money laundering for allegedly leading an illegal operation that had student-athletes serve as bookmakers.
New Jersey authorities initiated an investigation into the alleged gambling ring in January 2024 that found the scheme had siphoned through roughly $2 million over two years.
“The takedown of this organized illegal sports gambling ring underscores our unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal networks that profit from corruption and greed,” said NJSP Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan. “These racketeering opera..