Thomas Manzo, the former husband of Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dina Cantin, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for orchestrating an attack on her new partner. The bizarre plot involved Manzo hiring a mobster to assault Dina’s then-boyfriend, promising a free wedding reception in exchange.
The incident dates back to 2015 when a member of the Lucchese Crime Family, John Perna, walked into Tommy Manzo’s wedding venue seeking a spot for his upcoming nuptials. Manzo saw an opportunity and proposed a deal to Perna – he would host Perna’s wedding reception for free if Perna would carry out the attack on Dina’s boyfriend.
Seduced by the promise of a lavish reception at no cost, Perna agreed to the scheme. In July 2015, Perna tracked down Dina’s partner and assaulted him with a slapstick, intending to cause serious permanent injury. The attack left Dina’s boyfriend with significant injuries, fulfilling the twisted agreement made between Manzo and Perna.
The aftermath of the attack saw Perna enjoying a heavily discounted wedding reception at Manzo’s Brownstone Restaurant, attended by over 330 guests, including members of the Lucchese Crime Family. The whole scenario sounded like a plot straight out of a reality TV show, with even FBI officials likening it to a “bad TV crime drama.”
Both Manzo and Perna were arrested in June 2020 and faced charges related to the assault and conspiracy. Perna pleaded guilty to his involvement in December 2020 and served a two-and-a-half-year sentence, while Manzo maintained his innocence. However, following a trial in June 2024, Manzo was convicted on all charges and sentenced to seven years in prison, with an additional three years of supervised release.
In response to her ex-husband’s conviction, Dina Cantin shared a cryptic message on social media, hinting at the emotional turmoil she had endured. The entire incident, involving a mix of marriage woes, the mafia, and reality TV drama, has now come to a close with Manzo facing the consequences of his actions in the courtroom.