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Fourteen more people were arrested in relation to a Mafia-backed multimillion-dollar illegal sports betting ring, authorities in New Jersey announced on Thursday (November 13) via ESPN.
Joseph 'Little Joe' Perna and other members of the Lucchese crime family allegedly ran a nationwide network of bookmakers who used offshore websites to obtain $2 million in bets during a scheme that ran between 2022 and 2024. Perna, his sons, stepson, nephews and others were charged with several gambling offenses and money laundering.
Several college athletes operated sports books under Perna's direction, according to New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who didn't answer questions on which colleges or sports were involved in the alleged gambling ring.
A spokesperson for the NCAA confirmed to ESPN that it was aware of the charges and was gathering details about the case. Perna is believed to have served as the "financier," while his son, Joseph R. Perna, ran daily operations and facilitated several subordinate agents, including Perna's brother, Anthony, his stepbrother, Frank Zito, and his cousins, Dominic Perna and Michael Cetta, authorities confirmed.
Six other men, including Spencer Speziale, the newly certified agent for the National Basketball Players Association, were accused of being high-level agents who managed their own sportsbooks in relation to the scheme. Speziale is listed on the NBPA's directory, however, has no clients, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told ESPN at the time of the report.