RHONJ's Dina Manzo Reacts to Ex's Conviction for Hiring Mobster to Assault Her Then-Boyfriend: 'I Am Cleansed'

Dina Cantin (formerly Manzo) and husband Dave Cantin have gotten justice four years after the arrest of her ex-husband.

In 2020, the Real Housewives of New Jersey alum's ex-husband Thomas Manzo, 59, was charged for hiring a mobster to assault her then-boyfriend in 2015 in exchange for a free wedding reception at the family’s venue — Manzo's Banquets & Catering — in New Jersey. Now four years later, Manzo has been convicted.

“I call my power back to me. I call my energy back to me. I call my magic back to me,” read a quote Dina, 52, posted to her Instagram Story on Wednesday. “I am cleansed and disconnected from anything that may drain me. I am shielded from any energy that does not serve me.”

“I am safe. I am protected. I am whole. And so it is,” the quote concluded, followed by a caption, “And it is so ✨” written across the screen.

On Tuesday, Manzo was charged with one count of committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity, one count of conspiracy to commit a violent crime in aid of racketeering resulting in serious bodily injury, and one count of falsifying and concealing documents related to a federal investigation. These charges could lead to up to 46 years of jail time for Manzo.

After both the assault and wedding, “Manzo concealed and falsified documents related to the Perna wedding in response to a grand jury subpoena,” per a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey.

John Perna — the man Manzo hired to carry out the assault — pleaded guilty in December 2020 and was sentenced to 30 months. He was released in August 2023.

In 2017, Manzo was also suspected of orchestrating the brutal home invasion targeting Dina and Dave. He was indicted for being an accomplice to a man named James Mainello and sentenced to two years in federal prison and ordered to pay $17,816 in restitution, per the United States Attorney's Office District of New Jersey

Dina and Manzo separated in 2012, and she tied the knot with Cantin in 2017.

Dina’s older sister, who was also an original RHONJ cast member, Caroline Manzo, is married to Thomas’ older brother, Albert Manzo. Following the assault, Caroline supported Thomas and wrote a letter of support for the court. 

The sisters have been estranged for several years.