NJ indictment accuses 34 reputed Lucchese crime family members, associates of racketeering

34 reputed mobsters indicted in New Jersey

TRENTON, N.J. — Thirty-four alleged members and associates of the New York-based Lucchese crime family — including two high-ranking leaders — have been indicted in New Jersey.

The indictment announced Friday by New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow includes first-degree charges of racketeering, conspiracy and money laundering.

The indictments stem from an investigation into an illegal gambling operation that handled billions of dollars in wagers, primarily on sporting events, and relied on extortion and violence to collect debts, authorities said.

It also alleges a former state corrections officer and a high-ranking member of the Nine Trey Gangsters set of the Bloods worked with the Lucchese crime family to smuggle drugs and prepaid cell phones into East Jersey State Prison.

“The Lucchese crime family allegedly employed sophisticated measures such as electronic record-keeping and offshore wire rooms designed to thwart detection of their illegal gambling activities by law enforcement,” Dow said. “I’m proud to say that their innovations did not stop our investigators from infiltrating their criminal enterprise and obtaining evidence.

Dow and Stephen J. Taylor, director of the state’s criminal justice division, said the “evolving alliance” between mobsters and street gangs was “troubling,” and that law enforcement agencies have been closely monitoring it.

“We will continue to fulfill our mission of fighting organized crime, whether it takes the form of traditional organized crime or street gangs,” Taylor said. “We will remain vigilant and aggressive on both fronts.”

Among those named in the indictment are Joseph DiNapoli of Scarsdale, N.Y., and Matthew Madonna of Seldon, N.Y. — both 74 and alleged members of the Lucchese crime family’s three-man ruling panel.

Also named were Ralph V. Perna, 64, of East Hanover, and 44-year-old Nicodemo Scarfo Jr. of Ventnor. Perna allegedly became top capo of the New Jersey faction of the family when Scarfo was deposed in 2007.

Scarfo was arrested Friday in Egg Harbor Township, just hours after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Bail had not yet been set for him or any other suspects, authorities said.

Each of the first-degree charges of racketeering, conspiracy and money laundering carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in state prison. In addition to those charges DiNapoli, Madonna and Perna were charged with being leaders of organized crime, a second-degree offense.

It is alleged that DiNapoli and Madonna controlled the crime family’s gambling operations and other criminal activities from New York, while both Perna and Scarfo are alleged to have overseen the Lucchese crime family’s operations in New Jersey.

Also indicted were Perna’s three sons, Joseph M. Perna, 40, of Wyckoff, John G. Perna, 32, of West Caldwell, and Ralph M. Perna, 38, of West Caldwell. Prosecutors say the three, led by Joseph Perna, allegedly managed day-to-day gambling operations under their father’s oversight.

Meanwhile, two other men who were indicted — Michael A. Cetta, 43, of Wyckoff, and Martin Tacetta, 59, of East Hanover, identified as the family’s former New Jersey underboss, allegedly exercised their own management control over family gambling operations.

Cetta’s attorney, Marco Laracca, said Friday that it was “clear that (the indictment) is designed to grab sensational headlines. It represents overzealous prosecution.”

Noting that the wives of Cetta and Joseph Perna were among those named in the indictment. Laracca said the charges against them are clearly “a pressure tactic designed to embarrass the accused and place unfair leverage on their husbands. This is not a good faith prosecution.”

The state has seized or frozen millions of dollars in assets of the defendants alleged to be subject to forfeiture as criminal proceeds, including seven homes, 16 bank accounts, 15 vehicles, over $200,000 in cash, and numerous watches and items of jewelry.