19
RHONJ alum Dina Manzo’s ex-husband, Tommy Manzo, has been convicted of hiring a mobster to assault her then-boyfriend, now-husband, David Cantin.
On Tuesday, Thomas “Tommy” Manzo was found guilty by a federal grand jury for “conspiracy, falsifying and concealing documents and committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity” after he hired Lucchese crime family member John Perna to rough up Dave Cantin, the then-boyfriend of his ex-wife, Dina Manzo, in 2015.
Tommy Manzo faces up to 46 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. The 59-year-old’s sentencing is set for Oct. 15, per Page Six.
The feds accused the New Jersey-based restaurateur, who co-owns The Brownstone in Paterson with his brother Albert Manzo, of recruiting Lucchese’s crime family member, John Perna, to rough up David Cantin, the then-boyfriend, now-husband, of his ex-wife Dina Manzo, in 2015.
In return for completing the attack, Tommy promised Perna a deeply discounted wedding at The Brownstone in Paterson, NJ.
In July 2015, Perna and an associate attacked Cantin and roughed him up with a slapjack in the parking lot of a North Jersey strip mall. The attack left Cantin battered and scarred, according to court papers.
Five years later, Tommy and Perna were arrested and incited for their crimes. Perna pleaded guilty to “committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity.” He was sentenced to almost three years and was released in August 2023.
However, Tommy’s case has taken a much longer and rockier road. After the case against Tommy had endured many stops and starts, the government dismissed the charges without prejudice earlier this year because they violated the New Jersey restaurateur’s right to a speedy trial.
In April 2024, the feds re-indicted Tommy Manzo on the same charges, which include one count of “violent crime in aid of racketeering activity, conspiracy to commit an assault with a dangerous weapon, and falsifying and concealing records related to a federal investigation.”
Tommy is also still facing pending state charges over allegations he and another man broke into Dina and Dave’s Holmdel, NJ home, where they bound and beat the couple before robbing them in May 2017.
Dina married Tommy in 2005. The two split in 2012 but didn’t officially divorce until 2016. Her sister and fellow RHONJ alum Caroline Manzo is married to Tommy’s older brother, Albert.
Real Housewives of New Jersey airs on Sundays at 8 pm on Bravo.
As always, stay glued to AllAboutTRH for the latest, greatest, and most exclusive Real Housewives of New Jersey tea on the internet!
