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Multiple family members were caught up in an alleged sports betting ring in New Jersey, with connections to a known crime family.
Fourteen people have been charged with running a sports betting ring in New Jersey, in a move announced by the Attorney General, Matthew J. Platkin, on November 14. The alleged “multimillion” dollar scheme was run by an organized crime operation, with connections to the Lucchese crime family.
As many of those suspected of being involved are related to one another, here’s a closer look at some of the central figures. All have been charged with racketeering, conspiracy, gambling offenses, and money laundering.
Alleged crime family web behind New Jersey sports betting ring
Organizational chart showcasing the hierarchy and roles within an alleged sports-betting operation in New Jersey: Office of the Attorney General
Joseph M. ‘Little Joe’ Perna
The operation is thought to have been headed up by  Joseph M. ‘Little Joe’ Perna. The 55-year-old has been charged with racketeering, conspiracy, gambling offenses, and money laundering, and is thought to be a Lucchese crime family soldier.
His role in the operation is thought to be the financier and organizer, bringing in his sons, stepsons, wife, and ex-wife.
Kim Zito
53-year-old Kim Zito is currently married to Perna, and the couple have a child together. She reportedly took payments from the gambling ring, while also showcasing a lavish lifestyle on social media, documenting her two small dogs, various homes and apartments that she flips, and frequent nights out with designer clothing and accessories on Facebook and Instagram.
As well as the same charges of racketeering, conspiracy, gambling offenses, and money laundering, Zito has also been charged with independent racketeering scheme charges.
Frank Zito
Perna and Zito’s son Frank, a 23-year-old former Ramapo High School wrestling star, reportedly oversaw the sportsbook side of the illegal operation. In New Jersey court documents, it’s stated that both Perna and Kim Zito received suspicious payments from known conspirators of Frank.
Joseph Perna
The sportsbook operation Frank is said to have run reportedly involved his two stepbrothers, who are Perna’s sons from a previous marriage. One of them is 25-year-old Joseph Perna, a former wrestler at Ramapo High School.
Anthony Perna
His 23-year-old brother Anthony was also a sporting student, having played football for Bergen Catholic High School in the past. He is also alleged to be involved in the sportsbook operations.
Rosanna Magno
Rosanna, 52, is a former wife of Perna and the mother of Joseph (the younger) and Anthony Perna. She was allegedly caught concealing the ledgers for the gambling ring, which led to separate racketeering charges on top of those brought against the rest of the group.
Michael Cetta
Former Rutgers student-athletes Michael Cetta, 23 years old, and Nicholas Raimo, 25 years old, were charged in relation to a mob-linked sports gambling ring. Credit: Rutgers.edu
Rosanna Magno’s nephew Michael Cetta is another ex-Rutgers wrestler alleged to be involved in the operation. The 23-year-old was one of many agents reported to have been involved in the sportsbook operations under Perna’s three sons.
He climbed as high as 26th in the nation at 149 pounds and qualified for the NCAA tournament as a junior, picking up nine wins that season. By the time he wrapped up his college career, he’d put together a 40–27 record.
Nicolas Raimo
Like Cetta, 25-year-old Nicolas Raimo is an ex-Rutgers wrestler and an alleged sub-agent in the operation. Raimo was a two-time state champ at Hanover Park High School, and he originally wrestled at Arizona State before transferring back closer to home.
He never actually suited up for the Scarlet Knights, though, because an injury kept him out for the entire 2021–22 season. According to Arizona State’s website, he finished his high school career with a 132–5 record.
Dominic Perna
23-year-old Dominic, cousin of Michael Cetta, is the last family member included in the court documents, but one of dozens of other illegal sportsbook agents.
Featured image: Kim Zito, Instagram
The post Inside the family ties behind Lucchese syndicate’s alleged New Jersey betting ring appeared first on ReadWrite.

The NBA has requested documents and phone records from several teams, including the LA Lakers, as part of an ongoing illegal sports gambling investigation.
Multiple teams, including the LA Lakers, have been asked to hand over documents, records, and other property as part of an ongoing illegal sports gambling investigation, according to inside sources speaking to The Athletic. This comes after the FBI and the Department of Justice exposed a far-reaching gambling scandal in the NBA, leading to ex-player and coach for the Lakers Damon Jones facing federal charges.
Now, at least 10 Lakers employees, including the team’s assistant trainer Mike Mancias and executive administrator Randy Mims, are already cooperating with authorities, volunteering to hand over their phones to investigators. Both have professional connections to Jones.
“The NBA engaged an independent law firm to investigate the allegations in the indictment once it was made public,” an NBA spokesman told The Athletic in a statement. “As is standard in these kinds of investigations, a number of different individuals and organizations were asked to preserve documents and records. Everyone has been fully cooperative.”
ReadWrite has reached out to the NBA for further comment.
The NBA in crisis
The NBA has already undertaken investigations into players on other teams, leading to a ban for former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter in April last year after he was found to have deliberately compromised his performance in two games, an arrest for Gilbert Arenas on suspicion of running illegal poker games, and an investigation into Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley with regard to prop bets during the 2023-24 season.
The various investigations have led to not just the NBA but all major sports leagues being called upon to take action against unethical and illegal actions within their remits. At the end of last month, the NBA wrote a letter calling on all 30 teams, highlighting that “more can be done” to maintain integrity in the game.
Featured image: Canva
The post NBA requests documents and phone records from teams in wake of illegal gambling investigation appeared first on ReadWrite.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has told three online casinos Cryptowins Casino, Slotland Casino, and Winaday Casino to stop operating in the state. The agency sent cease and desist letters after deciding the sites were offering gaming illegally in Michigan. This comes only a few weeks after the board sent similar warnings to eight other gambling websites it said were also running internet gaming without permission.
The letters instruct each company to immediately stop offering online gaming to people in Michigan. According to the MGCB, none of the three sites are licensed or approved to offer internet gaming or internet sports betting in the state.
“Michigan law is clear—if you want to offer internet gaming in this state, you must be licensed,” said Henry Williams, MGCB Executive Director in a press release. “When unlicensed operators target Michigan residents, they’re not just breaking the law—they’re putting players at risk. Illegal gaming sites have no oversight, no consumer protections, and no guarantee that winnings will ever be paid out.”
Williams explained that the MGCB is taking these steps as part of a continuing push to protect players and keep Michigan’s legal gaming market fair.
“We have a strong regulatory system in place that ensures games are fair, operators are accountable, and players’ information and funds are secure,” he said. “When offshore or unregulated casinos try to bypass those rules, it undermines everything that makes our market safe and credible.”
The letters order each company to stop taking bets from anyone in Michigan and to block Michigan residents from accessing their platforms.
Michigan continues crackdown on illegal online casinos
Since Michigan launched legal online gaming and sports betting in January 2021, the MGCB has been closely watching online activity.

Fake casino ads are popping up across Michigan, luring players to illegal sites. Don’t take the bait — only play with licensed operators found at https://t.co/0blpqpE2bq. #PlayItSmartMI pic.twitter.com/IqCzmvDpNZ
— Michigan Gaming Control Board (@MichiganGCB) October 28, 2025

This latest crackdown follows actions reported in September by ReadWrite, which pointed out that the state had already shut down four unlicensed online casinos targeting Michigan players. It is all part of a broader effort to limit illegal gambling sites. In June, the state sent 100 cease and desist letters to operators offering games without approval.
Featured image: Michigan Gaming Control Board
The post Michigan orders three online casinos to halt illegal operations immediately statewide appeared first on ReadWrite.