Toms River Man Admits Role In Crime Family's Illegal Sportsbook Activities

TRENTON, NJ — A Toms River man has pleaded guilty to participating in a gambling and racketeering operation run by the Lucchese Crime Family, the New Jersey Attorney General's Office said.

Peter Norcia, 50, was among eight people who pleaded guilty on Tuesday in connection with a two-year investigation into illegal gambling, loansharking, extortion, and money laundering tied to the Lucchese crime family that led to 42 indictments of people arrested in April 2025, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said. The eight pleaded guilty before Superior Court Judge Ralph E. Amirata in Morris County.

According to court documents, the illegal gambling operations included social clubs that housed live poker games and gambling machines, as well as an extensive online sportsbook operated through several websites based outside of the United States.

The leadership of the New Jersey-based faction of the Lucchese family allegedly oversaw the gambling activities and received a portion of the criminal proceeds. The investigation resulted in the identification of $4.79 million in suspected criminal proceeds. Members of the criminal enterprise used multiple shell corporations and legitimate businesses to conceal their illegal gambling proceeds, authorities said.

Each poker club was operated by high-level managers who delegated day-to-day operations to managers who were present during poker games. Managers collected monetary dues called "rent" from poker hosts for permitting the games to occur and oversaw employees who worked in the clubs. Poker hosts were responsible for recruiting their own players, supplying food and drink for the games, and financially staking the game. The host, also known as the "house," made a profit off the games because the dealer took a percentage of the money bet by the players as a profit for the house for each hand played (also known as a "rake"). The dealers were paid by the hosts or were working off a prior gambling debt owed to the hosts of the game, authorities said.

The clubs also housed gambling machines that players could use while waiting for a seat at a live poker game, authorities said.

The online sportsbook was operated by "agents" — who, before the advent of computerized betting, would have been known as "bookies" — who created accounts on sports gambling websites based in foreign countries. These agents managed "packages" — groups of individual bettors, authorities said.

Sub-agents and agents were responsible for the gambling winnings and losses of bettors in their packages and kicked up a portion of the criminal proceeds to the high-level management of the enterprise. The high-level management made operational decisions, settled disputes, and used threats to collect overdue debts. The enterprise also used websites to facilitate illegal online sports betting. The websites, through the individuals that own, operate, and control them, are one part of this criminal enterprise controlling illegal gambling activities in northern New Jersey and other areas, authorities said.

"The websites allow traditional organized crime members and associates to use the internet and current technology to engage in the same criminal acts that traditional organized crime has engaged in since the 19th century," the attorney general's office said.

Norcia was an agent on the sportsbook, authorities said.

He pleaded guilty to third-degree conspiracy to promote gambling and prosecutors are expected to recommend a 4-year prison sentence.

"The guilty pleas we accepted today represent another important step in dismantling this criminal enterprise and holding the individuals involved accountable," Davenport said. "Organized crime has no place in New Jersey. For decades, the Attorney General’s Office has been a leader in rooting out organized crime in New Jersey, and we continue to play that important role to keep New Jersey safe."

"Illegal gambling operations exploit vulnerable people, money laundering fuels further criminal activity, and racketeering networks undermine the safety and stability of our neighborhoods," said Jeanne Hengemuhle, acting superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. "This outcome is a direct result of the exceptional work of State Police detectives, whose ability to trace the financial trails, uncover the enterprise's structure, and follow the evidence wherever it led built a comprehensive and compelling case. Their work not only brought those responsible to justice but also reinforces our ongoing commitment to protecting the public and safeguarding the integrity of our communities."