Thomas Manzo, ex-husband of former “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Dina Manzo, has been charged with allegedly hiring John Perna, a member of the Lucchese crime family, to assault Manzo’s current husband.
The United States Attorney’s Office announced the indictment Tuesday.
Thomas Manzo, 55, who lives in Franklin Lakes, allegedly asked Perna, 43, of Cedar Grove, to rob Dina’s boyfriend in July 2015 in exchange for a discounted price at Perna’s wedding in The Brownstone, a Paterson banquet hall that Manzo is a co-owner. with his brother Albert Manzo.
Perna and another Lucchese associate reportedly followed Dina’s boyfriend to a mall in Passaic County and allegedly attacked him, leaving a scar on the man’s face.
Authorities say Perna had a “luxurious” wedding attended by at least 330 people, “including many members of the Lucchese crime family,” at The Brownstone for a huge discount in August 2015. Perna and Manzo are charged. of committing a violent crime in aid of organized crime activities and conspiracy to commit a violent crime in aid of organized crime activities.
Dina Manzo and Tommy Manzo on VH1 in 2007. Their wedding was documented for another reality series.VH1
Who Is Thomas Manzo? Who Is Dina Manzo?
Thomas Manzo, known as Tommy Manzo in Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New Jersey”, separated from Dina Manzo in 2012. The couple finalized their divorce in 2016.
In 2017, Dina Manzo, 48, married Dave Cantin (the couple can be seen in the Instagram photo below), 40, an auto industry businesswoman who grew up in Freehold. Currently uses the name Dina Cantin.
Dina and Dave Cantin were victims of an invasion of their home in May 2017. The couple, who recently celebrated their third wedding anniversary, told police that Dave was hit in the head with a baseball bat at their home. in Holmdel and that Dina was repeatedly beaten. the attackers stole jewelry and cash. James Mainello, 51, of Bayonne, was charged with robbery, robbery, aggravated assault, robbery, criminal restraint, and possession of weapons.
Before landing on “RHONJ” in 2009, Dina’s wedding to Tommy at Brownstone appeared in a 2007 episode of another reality series, VH1’s “My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding” (you can witness some scenes from the show in the contest wedding presentation below). Another show on her reality show resume is “Dina’s Party,” which aired on HGTV from 2011 and showcased her event planning skills.
Tommy Manzo became stepfather to Dina’s daughter Lexi Ioannou from a previous relationship, who also appeared in “RHONJ”.
Both Dina and Tommy appeared in “RHONJ” in its first season (at the time living in Franklin Lakes). The show was a family affair. Tommy’s brother Albert Manzo is married to Dina’s sister Caroline Manzo (née Laurita), another former “RHONJ” cast member.
Thomas “Tommy” Manzo on VH1 in 2007.VH1
Caroline and Albert and their children Albie, Lauren and Christopher have appeared on the reality show. Caroline and her family had their own spin-off series, “Manzo’d with Children,” which ran from 2014 to 2016 in Bravo.
Chris Laurita, the brother of Dina and Caroline, also appeared on the show alongside his sister-in-law Jacqueline Laurita, a former member of the main cast.
Dina left “RHONJ” after the show’s first two seasons before briefly returning in 2014. She and Caroline reportedly parted ways with each other after their career in the series.
Dina is friends with “RHONJ” star Teresa Giudice (who recently appeared in a Super Bowl commercial with Caroline, despite her past feud), who is still a leading member of the cast. Dina is the godmother of Giudice’s daughter, Audriana, 10 years old.
The Manzo family, The Brownstone and questions about mafia ties
The United States Attorney’s Office says another Lucchese associate who is friends with Thomas Manzo paid for John Perna’s Brownstone wedding.
Perna, a “done man” in the Lucchese family, according to authorities, was released from prison on probation in 2019 on an organized crime charge in connection with a multi-million dollar gambling company involving his father, Ralph, and his brother, Joseph.
During the first season of “RHONJ,” questions surrounded the Manzo family, along with comparisons to “The Sopranos,” because Thomas and Albert Manzo’s father, Albert “Tiny” Manzo, was found dead in the trunk of a Car parked outside a hillside supermarket in the 1980s.
Caroline Manzo has always vehemently denied that the family has ties to the mob.
From left, “Real Housewives of New Jersey” stars Caroline Manzo, Dina Manzo, Teresa Giudice, and Jacqueline Laurita in 2010.Astrid Stawiarz | fake pictures
“In August 1984 my husband and his family were victims of a horrible crime, “he told The Daily Beast in 2009.” To this day, 26 years later, the family does not know the why or how of that event … the real crime here is the assumptions made against This family. “
Robert Buccino, a former chief of detectives for the Union County District Attorney’s Office, told the media that Albert “Tiny” Manzo, a former owner of The Brownstone, was known to be associated with organized crime. Manzo ran for mayor of Paterson in 1974.
Manzo and Peter Campisi, who authorities said was a soldier from the Gambino crime family, were suspected of stealing from a mob-controlled casino on Staten Island.
Caroline Manzo and Albert Manzo in 2012. Caroline has always vehemently denied that the Manzo family has ties to the mob.Stephen Lovekin | fake pictures
“As for his family, his sons and daughters, there are no complaints about them that we know of,” Buccino said of Manzo at the time. “But the father was certainly a gamer at the organized crime scene.”
According to a New York Daily News report, the 2013 book “Undercover Police: How I Shot Down Real-Life Sopranos” by Mike Russell, a former East Orange police officer, came to call Albert “Tiny” Manzo “Jersey’s Greatest Executor”. However, Russell’s book was criticized for errors and inconsistencies, including the claim that he was a state agent.
Manzo, Russell alleged, had “made the mistake of constantly puncturing” a senior soldier in the Genoese criminal family that Russell said he was “mismanaging” a casino on Lucchese territory in Paterson. Six months later, Russell said, Manzo was found dead.
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