Lara Sophia 
RHONJ alum Dina Manzo’s ex-husband, Tommy Manzo, has been convicted of hiring a mobster to assault her then-boyfriend, now-husband, David Cantin.
On Tuesday, Thomas “Tommy” Manzo was found guilty by a federal grand jury for “conspiracy, falsifying and concealing documents and committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity” after he hired Lucchese crime family member John Perna to rough up Dave Cantin, the then-boyfriend of his ex-wife, Dina Manzo, in 2015.
Tommy Manzo faces up to 46 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. The 59-year-old’s sentencing is set for Oct. 15, per Page Six.
The feds accused the New Jersey-based restaurateur, who co-owns The Brownstone in Paterson with his brother Albert Manzo, of recruiting Lucchese’s crime family member, John Perna, to rough up David Cantin, the then-boyfriend, now-husband, of his ex-wife Dina Manzo, in 2015.
In return for completing the attack, Tommy promised Perna a deeply discounted wedding at The Brownstone in Paterson, NJ.
In July 2015, Perna and an associate attacked Cantin and roughed him up with a slapjack in the parking lot of a North Jersey strip mall. The attack left Cantin battered and scarred, according to court papers.
Five years later, Tommy and Perna were arrested and incited for their crimes. Perna pleaded guilty to “committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity.” He was sentenced to almost three years and was released in August 2023.
However, Tommy’s case has taken a much longer and rockier road. After the case against Tommy had endured many stops and starts, the government dismissed the charges without prejudice earlier this year because they violated the New Jersey restaurateur’s right to a speedy trial.
In April 2024, the feds re-indicted Tommy Manzo on the same charges, which include one count of “violent crime in aid of racketeering activity, conspiracy to commit an assault with a dangerous weapon, and falsifying and concealing records related to a federal investigation.”
Tommy is also still facing pending state charges over allegations he and another man broke into Dina and Dave’s Holmdel, NJ home, where they bound and beat the couple before robbing them in May 2017.
Dina married Tommy in 2005. The two split in 2012 but didn’t officially divorce until 2016. Her sister and fellow RHONJ alum Caroline Manzo is married to Tommy’s older brother, Albert.
Real Housewives of New Jersey airs on Sundays at 8 pm on Bravo.
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18 comments
Dina traded up!!
Some long time justice –
– Dina gets justice, so long over due even after Caroline and family betrayed her
– Andy absolutely in the beginning took the side of the Manzo’s early on against Teresa and Dina and gave both of them a hard time. Go look at season 4, 5 Reunions how Andy acts, and even when Dina came back season 7. Now who is suing Bravo but Caroline and the Manzos and while it is awful what happened to Caroline, she has chose to handle it all in the media.
-Andy has to see that as a betrayal because when Caroline wanted off the show she has been one of the only few he gave their own series and it did not even do well in the ratings and he greenlit it for a few years..this is when he was still an Executive w/Bravo
Sounds like another infamous "Tommy" … and we know what happened to him.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3122e884314bbb968df598023c8064a5fcf1074d09a036fe8de74e5ea4aa957e.jpg
Karma and justice served at once. I’m happy that Dina and Dave can finally put this mess behind them and move on. ???
Yikes! Soooo, the mafia connections rumor wasn’t just a rumor, but fact? Does Caroline have egg on her face for all her denials? No wonder Tre thought it was Caro who ratted out Juicy! People with issues of their own often make deals to lessen their own charges or punishment by ratting out other criminals. I wonder if her “fambly” is still as thick as thieves…..
They are Italians who know someone in the mob. Years later I found out how many people I knew growing up were in the mob – but my family wasn't.
My my my… Seems we were just discussing this matter recently…
" Let me tell yoos something about my family. We are as thick as thieves and we protect each other to the end"…
Celebrating thug life no matter the status…
Danielle Staub, deranged sack of jizz that she is, has got to be thrilled to see the mafioso ties to the Manzo family being once again exposed after Caroline was pretty belittling to her, though rightfully so.
At times like these we can all take comfort in the words that a wise sage once uttered on this show regarding the Manzos, "A punk is a punk and a punk in a punk"
Rot, you P.O.S!!
???
46 years. Ouch!
I would never not back my sister and I would never talk to her again if she didn't back me.
Caroline is all about her comfortable lifestyle. I'll live in my car first.
I'm with you on this! It's so sad she treated her sister this way, not acceptable. I'm sure a lot of illegal activity has taken place at the Brownstone and Caroline's husband Albert had a bad vibe. Unless I missed it, he was never loving and seemed to be over Caroline.
He is a typical Italian husband. The woman’s place is in the home, making sure dinner is on the table, and dirty laundry stays buried.
Agree. Disappointed in Dolores for also giving a character statement.
I’m not surprised. She follows the money.
Dina’s new man is fine, she definitely dodged a bullet. Good for her!! And shame on that crooked Manzo family. LOCK HIM UP!!!