Real Housewives of New Jersey alum Dina Manzo‘s ex-husband, Thomas “Tommy” Manzo, has been sentenced to seven years behind bars after being found guilty of hiring an alleged mobster, John Perna, to assault her now-husband, Dave Cantin, in the spring of 2015.
Months after being convicted of several crimes relating to the attack, Tommy, who was facing 43 years, is headed to prison, where he will serve seven years, followed by an additional three years of supervised release.
According to a press release from New Jersey’s U.S. Attorney’s Office, via an October 15 report from Entertainment Weekly, John was said to be a “soldier in the Lucchese Crime Family.” He ultimately assaulted Dave in July 2015, and he was then “paid” for the hit with a lavish wedding reception at The Brownstone, which Tommy co-owns with brother Albert Manzo, the wife of Dina’s sister, Caroline Manzo, in August of that same year.
Five years later, as Tommy was dealt with a subpoena over the attack, John pleaded guilty to “committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity” and was dealt a two-and-a-half-year sentence (he completed his sentence in August 2023).
A short time later, Tommy was accused of hiding and falsifying documents pertaining to John’s wedding event, and he was found guilty of many crimes, including “one count of committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering, one count of conspiracy to commit a violent crime in aid of racketeering, and one count of falsifying and concealing documents related to a federal investigation.”
Along with the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger released a statement.
“Whether you’re actually in the Mafia or not, hiring the mob to assault someone because of your marital problems is abhorrent,” he shared. “Covering up the role you played only makes it worse. The jury’s verdict, and today’s sentence, make clear that this office will spare no resources to hold accountable anyone who commits such crimes.”
Following the news, Dina posted a telling message — a quote from Bianca Sparacino — on her Instagram Story.
“Because at the end of the day, the right people fight for you. The right people show up. The right people care, not only when life is convenient, but when it’s difficult and messy and it aches all over,” it read.
Dina Manzo appeared on the first, second, and sixth seasons of The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
