3 days ago
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An illegal sports betting ring allegedly headed up by a mafia subordinate has been breached up successful New Jersey, according to the state's lawyer general.
Authorities connected Thursday announced charges against 14 radical successful transportation with the multimillion dollar ring, capping a astir two-year investigation.
"This was genuinely a household affair"
Authorities allege the gambling ringing was headed up by Joseph "Little Joe" Perna, whom they picture arsenic a worker successful the Lucchese transgression family. Perna, 55, is charged with racketeering, conspiracy, gambling offenses and wealth laundering. He was charged on with his son, stepsons, nephews, wife, and ex-wife.
"This was genuinely a household affair," Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.
Authorities said the radical ran aggregate physics sports books crossed the Garden State, contempt sports betting being ineligible successful New Jersey.
"Organized transgression families look to person a hard clip breaking this aged habit. So we're going to interruption it for them," Platkin said. "Today, contempt the wide availability of ineligible sports betting, amerciable gambling remains among members and associates of organized crime."
Perna allegedly utilized offshore gambling websites illegally arsenic portion of the operation. He is accused of being the financier, oregon bank, for the $2 cardinal enterprise. His lad allegedly oversaw the regular operations of the sports book.
"This cognition besides included a fig of assemblage athletes, who operated sports books astatine the absorption of the Perna enterprise. And I'll enactment that this cognition relied connected Gen Z gamblers and a web of sub-agents recruited from among Perna's son's precocious schoolhouse and assemblage friends," Platkin said, calling it a "lucrative operation."
"You should not beryllium gambling successful a mob-backed operation"
Authorities pointed retired sports betting has been ineligible successful New Jersey since 2018 astatine licensed casino operators and racetracks.
"Any assemblage pupil listening: Yes, if you're of age, you tin gamble connected your telephone successful the authorities of New Jersey. You should not beryllium gambling successful a mob-backed operation. That's escaped parental advice," Platkin said. "If you're going to gamble ... usage ineligible and liable platforms wherever you are safe."
"Organized crime, unfortunately, has not gone away. It has changed its form, they person changed their tactics, they changed however they operate," Platkin said. "We're not going to halt holding them accountable."
Perna could look up to 20 years successful prison, if convicted connected the astir superior charges.
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