Fourteen people, including a former Rutgers University wrestler, were charged Thursday with running an illegal online sports betting scheme in New Jersey with ties to the mob, officials said.
Members of the ring operated a multi-million dollar online sports betting operation that included members of the Lucchese crime family, according to the state Attorney General’s office.
Joseph M. “Little Joe” Perna, of Fairfield, and a soldier in the Lucchese crime family was the leader of the organization.
Several former and current college athletes were involved in the operation, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.
“Despite the wide availability of legal sports betting, illegal gambling remains among members and associates of organized crime today,” said Platkin, who described the

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