Following an investigation conducted by New Jersey authorities, 14 individuals have been charged for their alleged roles in a multi-million-dollar sports betting ring, which is also tied to mafia-related organized crime.
Joseph Perna, a member of the Lucchese crime family, allegedly operated a nationwide network of bookmakers who utilized offshore sites to facilitate $2m in wagers between 2022 and 2024. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin stated multiple NCAA athletes operated sportsbooks at the discretion of Perna and his associates throughout the span.
At the time of writing, no reports have been released as to which sports or universities were involved in the alleged violations, although the NCAA has been made aware of the charges and is currently looking into the case.
The New Jersey Attorney General's Office has charged Perna, as well as his sons, stepson, nephews and others, with counts of racketeering, conspiracy, gambling offenses and money laundering.
According to the regulator, Perna would act as the "financier" of the operations while his son conducted day-to-day operations and assisted multiple subordinate agents, including Perna's brother Anthony, his stepbrother Frank Zito and his cousins Dominic Perna and Michael Cetta.
Six others were additionally charged after being accused of operating as high-level agents who managed their own sportsbooks as part of the collegiate betting scandal.
The 14 individuals who were charged will attend first appearances in court on November 13, with any possible detention hearing scheduled thereafter.
The arrests follow a recent scandal unveiled in the NBA which resulted in former NBA player Damon Jones, current player Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Chauncey Billups among those charged with a range of gambling and gambling-related offenses in a "massive nationwide takedown."
A multi-year investigation by the FBI into suspicious betting by high-profile NBA figures and an illegal ring of rigged poker games culminated in 31 arrests made on October 23.
The NFL issued a memo to team officials on November 13 detailing the restrictions placed upon prop bets for players and staff following the recent scandals unveiled within the NBA and MLB
