Overview
- Attorney General Matthew Platkin named Joseph M. “Little Joe” Perna as the financier and his son, Joseph R. Perna, as the day-to-day operator overseeing dozens of sub-agents.
- Charging documents say the network handled roughly $2 million in wagers from 2022 to 2024 using offshore platforms and a nationwide roster of bookmakers.
- Former Rutgers wrestlers Michael Cetta and Nicholas Raimo are among those charged, with operations based in Essex and Bergen counties, according to authorities.
- The investigation began in January 2024 with the State Police Port Investigations Unit, and officials say several college athletes operated sportsbooks for the enterprise.
- An NCAA spokesperson said the organization is reviewing the case, several defendants were released after initial court appearances, and defense attorneys have publicly denied the allegations.