Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dina Cantin’s ex-husband Thomas Manzo has been indicted for hiring John Perna, a member of the Lucchese crime family, to assault Cantin’s boyfriend. The hearing occurred virtually out of Newark, New Jersey on Tuesday.

Manzo and Perna were arrested and each charged with committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity and conspiracy to commit a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity. Manzo was also charged with falsifying and concealing records related to the federal investigation. Both of the men involved could face up to 43 years in prison and $750,000 in fines. 

Manzo had allegedly hired Perna in 2015 to commit the “violent assault” on Cantin’s boyfriend in exchange for a “deeply discounted” wedding reception at the Brownstone Restaurant in Patterson, New Jersey, which Manzo owns. Manzo was reportedly upset about his former wife’s new relationship and wanted Perna to leave a “permanent facial scar” on the boyfriend. Perna had agreed to the terms in order to “maintain and enhance” his position in the Lucchese family. 

The assault allegedly took place at a strip mall in Passaic in July 2015. Perna used a “slap jack” with the intent to inflict serious permanent injury.” Perna was then married at the Brownstone soon after with over 330 guests including “many members of the Lucchese crime family.”

Manzo and Cantin were also married at the Brownstone in 2017. Their wedding was featured on the television show My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding on VH1. The couple separated in 2012 and were divorced in 2016. Cantin was then married to her boyfriend in 2017. Cantin appeared on The Real Housewives of New Jersey from 2009 to 2010 and again in 2014.

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Kate Reynolds

Article by Kate Reynolds

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