Fourteen people were charged Thursday in a multimillion-dollar illegal sports betting ring authorities say involved college athletes and organized-crime ties. Joseph M. “Little Joe” Perna, a member of the Lucchese family, is accused of financing a nationwide web of bookmakers that moved $2 million between 2022 and 2024.
Arrests named former Rutgers wrestlers Michael Cetta and Nicholas Raimo. Prosecutors say young athletes ran sportsbooks, and separate federal probes have put coaches and insiders under betting scrutiny. This includes several other associates.
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Officials painted a stark picture at a news conference.
“We may all think that the portrayal of organized crime we remember from movies and television shows and books no longer exists, but we are announcing charges today that allege it still does,” Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. Theresa L. Hilton of the Division of Criminal Justice called the alleged scheme “sophisticated,” and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Patrick Callahan warned the operation preyed on vulnerable communities.
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Prosecutors say Joseph R. Perna, the accused financier’s son, ran daily operations and recruited dozens of agents from his high school and college circles. Authorities say the ring used offshore websites and handled $2 million in suspected transactions between 2022 and 2024. Several college athletes are charged with operating local books.
The NCAA said it is aware of the charges and is investigating.
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Fourteen people were charged for their roles in a multimillion-dollar illegal sports betting ring that involved college athletes and had links to organized crime, New Jersey authorities announced Thursday.
The NCAA is aware of the charges and is looking into the case, according… pic.twitter.com/DS856VbOYZ
— ESPN (@espn) November 14, 2025
“We will follow the facts and apply our rules,” an NCAA spokesperson said. Defense lawyers deny wrongdoing. Anthony Iacullo, attorney for Joseph R. Perna, said his client “looks forward to confronting the false allegations against him in a court of law.”
Convictions could bring prison time and heavy fines. Separately, student-athletes found to have broken rules may face loss of eligibility and other sanctions. The case could also prompt lawmakers and athletic officials to revisit recent NCAA betting policies and tighten oversight.
The investigation underscores a larger concern which is legal betting’s growth can mask illegal markets that still exploit young bettors. As evidence unfolds, prosecutors, regulators and schools will decide how to punish wrongdoing and protect athletes.
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