Dina Manzo's Ex-Husband: 7-Year Sentence Revealed

New Jersey sometimes gets a bad reputation, and in certain cases, that reputation is warranted. A prime example is Thomas Manzo, the former husband of Dina Manzo, a cast member from The Real Housewives of New Jersey. He was sentenced to seven years in prison for a crime that seems to epitomize the state's infamous reputation: he hired an alleged mob member to attack his ex-wife’s then-boyfriend, who is now her husband, in exchange for a lavish wedding reception for the assailant.

Manzo was convicted on multiple counts, including committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit a violent crime, and falsifying documents during a federal investigation. According to a press release from New Jersey's U.S. Attorney's Office, Manzo engaged John Perna, identified as a "soldier in the Lucchese Crime Family," to carry out the assault in the spring of 2015. Manzo, who co-owns The Brownstone, a catering hall in Paterson, NJ, arranged for the attack to be paid for with a complimentary wedding reception.

Perna fulfilled his part of the agreement on July 18, 2015, and celebrated his wedding at The Brownstone in August 2015, attended by around 330 guests, many of whom were affiliated with the Lucchese Crime Family. Four years later, when a grand jury issued a subpoena, Manzo attempted to conceal and falsify documents related to the wedding.

Perna pleaded guilty in December 2020 to committing a violent crime connected to racketeering and received a two-and-a-half-year sentence, being released in August 2023. In contrast, Manzo will also have to undergo three years of supervised release following his 84-month prison term.

Thomas Manzo's legal team did not respond to requests for comment from Entertainment Weekly. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger condemned the actions, stating, “Hiring the mob to assault someone due to personal issues is abhorrent. Attempting to cover up your involvement only worsens the situation. The jury's verdict and today's sentence illustrate our commitment to holding accountable anyone who engages in such crimes.”

Dina Manzo, now known as Dina Cantin, was part of the RHONJ cast for the first two seasons, returned as a guest in season 4, and became a full-time Housewife in season 6. She separated from Thomas Manzo in 2012, finalizing their divorce in 2016, and married entrepreneur David Cantin the following year, despite challenges involving the Lucchese Crime Family.