Tony Caputo

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Nov 14, 2025, 12:12 PM

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Updated

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Police say 14 people have been charged with operating illegal sports gambling operations in New Jersey and nationwide and the leader has been identified as a member of organized crime.

New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin announced on Thursday that 55-year-old Joseph "Little Joe" Perna, of Fairfield, along with his sons, stepson, nephews, wife and ex-wife were all charged with various crimes relating to illegal sports gambling operations.

Perna, according to the AG, is a "soldier" in the Lucchese crime family and acted as the "financier" in the operations.

According to multiple published reports, two of those named, 25-year-old Nicholas Raimo, of East Hanover, and 23-year-old Michael Cetta, of North Haledon, are both listed as former students and members of the wrestling team at Rutgers University.

However, the AG's office did not mention Rutgers University and or any of its sports teams being involved in this alleged illegal operation.