14 Charged in Multimillion-Dollar Sports Betting Ring Tied to Organized Crime in North Jersey

MORRISTOWN, NJ - Fourteen individuals have been charged in connection with a multimillion-dollar illegal sports betting enterprise allegedly operated by a member of the Lucchese organized crime family, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, the Division of Criminal Justice, and the New Jersey State Police announced.

Joseph M. “Little Joe” Perna, 55, of Fairfield, New Jersey, is accused of leading the operation, which ran primarily out of Essex and Bergen counties between 2022 and 2024. According to investigators, Perna acted as the financier of a widespread illegal gambling network and faces multiple charges, including racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering, and gambling offenses. Perna’s sons, stepson, nephews, and other associates are among the 13 co-defendants.

“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,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Despite the proliferation of legal betting of all kinds, gambling remains a mainstay of members and associates of organized crime. 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.”

Fourteen People Charged for Roles in Organized Crime Sports Betting Ring

Law enforcement began investigating the case in January 2024 through the New Jersey State Police’s Port Investigations Unit. Authorities allege that the Perna enterprise systematically attracted individuals to place illegal sports wagers, generating approximately $2 million in suspected gambling proceeds. Those funds were allegedly funneled through the enterprise to sustain and profit its members.

The criminal network reportedly included student athletes and young adults who managed individual sportsbooks under the Perna operation. Perna’s son, Joseph R. Perna, 25, of Oakland, New Jersey, is accused of handling daily operations, overseeing dozens of subordinate agents. These included his brother, Anthony Perna, 23; his stepbrother, Frank Zito, 23; and cousins Dominic Perna, 23, and Michael Cetta, 23.

Other high-level agents charged include Tyler Schnorrbusch of Wyckoff; Nicholas Raimo of East Hanover; Joseph Janish of North Caldwell; William Medeiros of North Kingstown, Rhode Island; Spencer Speziale of Wyckoff; and Devon Shuster of Gainesville, Florida. Each is accused of running sub-operations that contributed to the wider gambling network.

Separate charges were filed against two family members alleged to have aided the operation. In late 2023, Kim Zito, 53, of Fairfield—Perna’s wife and Frank Zito’s mother—allegedly accepted multiple payments linked to illegal gambling activities. In April 2025, Perna’s ex-wife, Rosanna Magno, 52, of Oakland, was accused of attempting to conceal gambling ledgers during a police stop. She is the mother of Joseph R. and Anthony Perna and aunt to Michael Cetta.

“Today we are alleging that a member and associates of the Lucchese crime family were running a sophisticated sports betting operation,” said DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton. “They are also charged with money laundering and other crimes as part of their racketeering enterprise. We are committed to rooting out these illegal operations and protecting the public from becoming their victims.”

The investigation involved coordination with multiple agencies, including the Tampa Police Department, Rhode Island State Police, FBI–Newark, and Gainesville Police Department.

Charges filed in the case range from first- to fourth-degree crimes. First-degree offenses carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and fines of up to $500,000 in cases of money laundering. Second-degree crimes may result in up to 10 years in prison and $150,000 in fines, while third- and fourth-degree charges carry lighter penalties.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Robert Anstatt under the supervision of Deputy Chief Kevin Long and Bureau Chief Brian Carney.

For updates, subscribe to our free newsletter!

Support your local news!

Want to understand the news better? Go to TheMinuteman.org to get simple explanations of the trending topics in the news.