Illegal Gambling Ring Run by Lucchese Crime Family Uncovered by New Jersey Authorities

College athletes, mobsters, and illegal gambling.

It sounds like a plot for one of those 1950s film noir detective flicks. Only in this instance, it’s entirely real.

While betting on sports is legal in New Jersey, it must be done through licensed operators regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

This was no backroom mom-and-pop outfit. According to prosecutors, over $2 million in wagers were handled by the illegal gambling ring.

What we know

Two former Rutgers Scarlet Knights wrestlers were among 14 people charged in an illegal gambling ring in New Jersey run by the notorious Lucchese crime family.

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced several charges during a news conference.

Those indicted as part of this alleged gambling ring are facing felony charges, including racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering, and other gambling offenses. If convicted, they could face between 10-20 years in prison.

A family operation

The alleged head of the operation was noted mobster Little Joe Perna Sr. The day-to-day operations were handled by his son, Joseph R. Perna.

“Despite the proliferation of legal betting of all kinds, gambling remains a mainstay of members and associates of organized crime,” Platkin said in a statement. “The locations and methods may have evolved, but illegal gambling – in this case, sports betting – remains a problem, and we will charge those who seek to profit from it. “Organized crime families seem to have a hard time breaking this old habit. So we’re gonna break it for them.”

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NBA agent among those arrested

Others who were arrested included ex-Rutgers wrestlers Nicholas Raimo and Michael Cetta. Raimo was a two-time New Jersey state wrestling champion who went 132-5 in high school. Raimo also wrestled for Arizona State. Cetta qualified for the NCAA Wrestling Tournament as a junior. Cetta is a cousin of the younger Perna.

Rutgers officials declined to comment on the arrest of their former student-athletes.

Rutgers spokesperson Kevin Lorincz, a spokesman for Rutgers, told the New York Post that the school “does not comment on law enforcement matters.”

Another among the 14 arrested was Spencer Spezliale, who is certified as an agent by the NBA Players Association. However, a search indicated that Speziale has no current NBA players as clients.

Links to other recent NBA gambling scandals

The Lucchese crime family is also linked to the recent NBA gambling scandal that saw the arrest of Miami Heat player Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, a member of the NBA Hall of Fame.

The probe of this latest gambling ring began in early 2024. College sports were the focus of this illegal gambling. Law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation included the New Jersey attorney general’s office, New Jersey State Police, the FBI, along with agencies in Florida and Rhode Island.

Platkin noted that multiple student-athletes at various colleges were part of the outfit, accepting illegal wagers on a variety of sports. New York TV station PIX 11 reported that college athletes may have illegally placed bets on the outcome of games in which they were active participants.

“Any college student listening,” Platkin said, “Yes, if you’re of age, you can gamble on your phones.”

“You should not be gambling in a mob-backed operation. That’s free parental advice.”

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