A group of college athletes are among the 14 people charged in a massive New Jersey sports betting ring linked to organized crime.

The enterprise, which allegedly had several college students working as bookies, operated out of Essex and Bergen counties and transferred around $2 million in transactions between 2022 and 2024, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office said Thursday.

The charges were announced at a press conference , where Attorney General Matthew Platkin said Fairfield resident Joseph “Little Joe” Perna, 55, served as the financial backer, while Joseph R. Perna, his 25-year-old son, ran day-to-day operations. Officials allege the older Perna is a member of the Lucchese crime family .

Both father and son have been charged with racketeering, conspiracy, money launderin

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