‘Actual Housewives’ Star’s Ex Convicted of Hiring Mobster to Beat Up Her Boyfriend

• Thomas Manzo, the ex-husband of former Actual Housewives of New Jersey star Dina Cantin (previously Manzo), was convicted of arranging an assault on the star’s then-boyfriend in alternate for a free marriage ceremony reception
  
• Manzo now faces as much as 46 years in jail and a $500,000 high-quality for 3 separate counts
• His sentence is scheduled for Oct. 15.
  

On Tuesday, June 4, Actual Housewives of New Jersey alum Dina Cantin’s ex-husband was convicted of orchestrating an assault on Cantin’s then-boyfriend, now-husband in alternate for a free marriage ceremony reception, per a press launch from the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace, District of New Jersey.

Thomas Manzo, 59, was charged with one rely of committing a violent crime in assist of racketeering exercise, one rely of conspiracy to commit a violent crime in assist of racketeering leading to severe bodily damage, and one rely of falsifying and concealing paperwork associated to a federal investigation.

Manzo now faces as much as 46 years in jail. Each crimes of racketeering exercise and concealing information associated to a federal investigation carry a most potential penalty of 20 years in jail and a $250,000 high-quality. The conspiracy to commit a violent crime in assist of racketeering carries a most potential penalty of three years in jail. His sentence is scheduled for Oct. 15.

Federal prosecutor Philip R. Sellinger stated Manzo employed Lucchese Crime Household “soldier” John Perna to commit the July 2015 “vicious assault” towards the 52-year-old’s now-husband Dave Cantin. After the assault, Perna held a lavish marriage ceremony reception at Manzo’s Banquets & Catering without cost. 

After each the assault and marriage ceremony, “Manzo hid and falsified paperwork associated to the Perna marriage ceremony in response to a grand jury subpoena,” per the press launch.

FBI Newark Particular Agent in Cost James E. Dennehy stated on Tuesday, “The details and circumstances on this case learn like one thing from a nasty TV crime drama, however the proof and testimony introduced in courtroom show it was actuality. We actually hope the victims on this investigation are capable of transfer on with their lives and neglect about Manzo and his prison mafia bedfellows.”

Earlier than Manzo’s conviction, Perna pleaded responsible in December 2020 and was sentenced to 30 months in jail for planning and finishing up an aggravated assault; Perna was launched in August 2023.

Manzo and Dina had been married when the previous actuality star was solid within the first two seasons of Actual Housewives of New Jersey. After seven years of marriage, she break up from Manzo in 2012 and wed Cantin in 2017.

Dina’s older sister, additionally an unique RHONJ solid member, Caroline Manzo, is married to Thomas’ older brother, Albert Manzo. (The 2 are sister-in-laws of fellow unique solid member Jacqueline Laurita, who’s married to the sisters’ youthful brother, Chris.)

After the assault, Caroline, 62, expressed assist for her brother-in-law, which then led Dina to converse out towards Caroline. The elder sister additionally wrote a letter of assist for Dina’s ex-husband.

In June 2021, Dina additionally criticized her nephew, Caroline’s son Albie, for teasing that he would talk about the household drama in episodes of his podcast Expensive Albie.

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Along with Thomas’ current prices, in 2021, he was linked to the June 2017 brutal dwelling invasion that focused Dina and Dave. He was indicted alongside James Mainello for his position as an confederate to first-degree theft, second-degree housebreaking, second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree aggravated assault, third-degree theft, third-degree possession of a weapon for an illegal function and third-degree prison restraint. He was additionally charged as the only real actor in two counts of fourth-degree stalking of Dina and Cantin.

He was sentenced to 2 years in federal jail for the assault and ordered to pay $17,816 in restitution, per the United States Lawyer’s Workplace District of New Jersey.