Authorities in New Jersey announced Thursday that fourteen people were charged for their roles in a multimillion-dollar illegal sports betting ring that involved college athletes.
The illegal betting ring has ties to organized crime.
At least two of the people charged are former college athletes.
Here is an excerpt from ESPN:
According to the authorities, Joseph “Little Joe” Perna, a member of the Lucchese crime family, and his associates ran a nationwide network of bookmakers who used offshore websites to facilitate approximately $2 million in bets between 2022 and 2024.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said several college athletes operated sportsbooks at the direction of Perna’s organization. Platkin did not answer questions regarding which colleges or sports were involved in the alleged betting ring.
The NCAA is aware of the charges and is looking into the case, according to a spokesperson.
