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The New Jersey State Police, Division of Criminal Justice and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced charges against 14 people for their roles in a multimillion-dollar sports betting ring involving members of organized crime.
Joseph M. “Little Joe” Perna, 55, of Fairfield, NJ, is the alleged ringleader of the illegal operation and has been identified as a member of the Lucchese crime family, according to a news release from the Office of the Attorney General.
Perna, together with his sons, stepson, nephews and others, are accused of vandalism, conspiracy, money laundering and gambling. Perna’s wife and ex-wife are also charged independently of the scheme.
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A player has a betting slip at the betting window at the Westgate SuperBook sportsbook on August 4, 2025 in Las Vegas. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
“We may all think that the portrayal of organized crime we remember from movies and TV shows and books no longer exists, but we’re announcing charges today that allege it still does,” Platkin said in a statement. “Despite the proliferation of legal betting of all kinds, gambling remains a mainstay among members and associates of organized crime. The venues 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.”
Division of Criminal Justice Director Theresa L. Hilton added: “Today we allege that a member and associates of the Lucchese crime family ran a sophisticated sports betting operation. … We are committed to rooting out these illegal operations and protecting the public from becoming their victims.”
Documents filed in the case allege that in January 2024, members of the Port Investigations Unit of the State Police Port Security Section began investigating an illegal sports betting ring operating in Essex and Bergen counties.
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The scheme allegedly enticed individuals to place bets and the proceeds were used to run the business and enrich its members. Some participants were allegedly student-athletes who ran sportsbooks.
Between 2022 and 2024, the gambling ring allegedly transferred an estimated $2 million worth of gambling transactions.
The company had “a nationwide network of bookmakers” who worked under Perna, a soldier in the Lucchese crime family.
A general overview of betting odds on the video board at the Westgate SuperBook sportsbook on August 4, 2025 in Las Vegas. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
“Perna served as the ‘financier’ supporting the operation,” the attorney general’s office said. “Perna’s son, Joseph R. Perna, 25, of Oakland, NJ, managed the day-to-day operations of the sportsbook and facilitated dozens of subordinate agents, including his brother, Anthony Perna, 23, of Oakland; his stepbrother, Frank Zito, 23, of Fairfield; and his cousins, Dominic Perna, Newark, NJ, 23; and his cousins, Dominic Perna, Cetta, NJ, 23; Haledon, NJ”
There were additional co-defendants in the case, including one from North Kingstown, RI, and another from Gainesville, Fla. Others were from several towns in northern New Jersey.
As for the women involved with “Little Joe” Perna, his current wife, Kim Zito, allegedly received several payments in November and December 2023 from known Frank Zito co-conspirators connected to illegal gambling.
Then, in April 2025, Perna’s ex-wife, Rosanna Magno, allegedly tried to hide gambling books from police during an investigative stop.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, along with United States Attorney General Merrick Garland (L) and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, speak during a press conference announcing an antitrust case against Apple, at the Justice Department in Washington, DC, March 21, 2024. (Mandel Ngan/AFP)
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First-degree felonies in the case carry a prison sentence of 10 to 20 years and a fine of up to $200,000. Money laundering in the first degree carries a fine of $500,000. Second- through fourth-degree charges also carry prison sentences.
“The takedown of this organized illegal sports gambling ring underscores our unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal networks that profit from corruption and greed,” said Col. Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “These vandalism operations take advantage of vulnerable individuals and communities, and today’s charges send a clear message – we will continue to protect victims and pursue justice wherever organized crime takes root.”
