Crime Score: Students and Mafiosi from New Jersey Organised Underground Betting for $2 Million

Passed the exam - accept the bet

In the state of New Jersey, law enforcement officers have uncovered a classic, but no less audacious black gambling scheme. The main roles are played by colourful Italian mafiosi and ordinary American students. In a couple of years, this motley company managed to drive about $ 2 million through offshore accounts. The story turned out to be cinematic: there are high-profile names, and "family contracts", and the collapse of the dream of easy money.

The godfather and his "wards"

As befits a good crime thriller, a charismatic leader was at the helm. The organizer of the scheme was Joseph Perna, better known in narrow circles as "Little Joe". He is a representative of the famous Lucchese mafia clan.

Perna decided to modernise the business and relied on young people. The logic is ironclad: who, if not students, always needs quick money? University athletes were of particular interest to the mafia. They are well versed in sports, adventurous and, as a rule, do not think too much about the consequences.

The media are now actively dispersing the version that the students were allegedly "unaware" of the criminal component and thought that everything was legal. It sounds, of course, doubtful, but let's leave it to the jury.

The mechanics of the scam: family contract

The structure of the organisation was built according to all the canons of nepotism. "Little Joe's" right-hand man was his own son, who took on the role of COO. The rest of the vacancies of "top managers" were filled by relatives: Perna's brothers, nephews and stepsons. Everyone had their own area of responsibility and their own line of bets.

Students were assigned the role of "infantry" - local bookmakers. Their task was to find customers on campuses, accept cash and transfer funds to higher-ranking curators through ordinary banking applications.

Burned on the accounting department

The business flourished for two years, until greed or carelessness let the family down. The police were interested in strange financial flows. In particular, regular transfers from "agents" to the accounts of Joseph Perna's wife. It turned out that the boss's wife acted as a chief accountant, accumulating profits. It was at this stage that the chain was closed.

Finita la comedy

Investigators, pulling the string of bank transactions, unraveled the whole tangle - from ordinary student collectors to the top of the clan. As a result, 14 people were taken into custody, including "Little Joe" himself and his relatives.

For students, this story is likely to end badly. The accusations are serious: racketeering, money laundering and the organisation of illegal gambling. Yesterday's stars of university teams and favourites of the audience risk changing sports locker rooms for prison cells.