College Athletes Among 14 Arrested on Allegations of Involvement in Mafia-Led Gambling Ring

Fourteen men, including NCAA college athletes, have been charged for their suspected roles in a multimillion-dollar illegal sports betting ring that has ties to the Mafia, law enforcement authorities said on Thursday, Nov. 13.

Joseph M. “Little Joe” Perna, 55, of Fairfield, N.J. — who is alleged to be part of the Lucchese crime family — along with his sons, stepson, nephews and others were charged with racketeering, conspiracy, gambling offenses and money laundering, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General announced.

Perna’s wife and ex-wife are also charged independently of the racketeering scheme, authorities said.

“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 Matthew 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.”

Platkin added that several college athletes operated sportsbooks under the direction of Perna. 

Co-defendants Tyler Schnorrbusch, 23, of Wyckoff, N.J. Nicholas Raimo, 25, of East Hanover, N.J.; Joseph Janish, 23, of North Caldwell, N.J., William Medeiros, 22, of North Kingstown, R.I.; Spencer Speziale, 22, of Wyckoff; and Devon Shuster, 28, of Gainesville, Fla., are all “high-level agents of the enterprise who managed their own sportsbooks within the Perna enterprise,” authorities said.

Raimo is a former Rutgers University wrestler, as is Michael Cetta, 23, who was also charged, according to USA Today. Cetta earned an at-large selection to the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships.

It was not immediately made clear what other colleges or sports are involved in the alleged crimes.

According to ESPN, a spokesperson for the NCAA said it is aware of the allegations and is looking into the case.

The news of the charges comes in the wake of two other sports betting cases.

Earlier this week, Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were charged with fraud and bribery after federal prosecutors alleged they rigged pitches that allowed gamblers to win hundreds of thousands of dollars.

And late last month, authorities announced the arrests of 31 people on suspicion of their involvement in a massive sports gambling operation with connections to the Mafia.

Former Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were among those arrested.