The ex-husband of Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dina Manzo has been released on bail after “hiring a gangster to beat up her new husband for a discount wedding at his hospitality venue.”
New Jersey restauranteur Tommy Manzo has posted $100,000 bond ahead of his trial on racketeering charges, which is expected to begin May 20, according to federal court documents.
As part of his bail agreement, Manzo surrendered his passport and is prohibited from traveling outside New Jersey and New York until the case is decided.
Manzo was indicted in 2020 on federal charges alleging he hired a member of the notorious Lucchese crime family in 2015 to beat up 44-year-old David Cantin, then-boyfriend and now-husband Dina, 51.
In exchange for carrying out the attack, Manzo allegedly offered suspected gangster John Perna, 44, a deeply discounted wedding reception at his catering hall, The Brownstone, in Paterson.
Dina Manzo’s 51-year-old ex-husband Tommy Manzo (seen with Dina) has been released on $100,000 bail after hiring mobster John Perna to beat up Dina’s new husband in 2015
Dina pictured with husband David Cantin, who was beaten with a slapjack by Perna and an “accomplice” in a New Jersey strip mall parking lot in 2015
Tommy Manzo offered the suspected mobster a big discount at his banquet hall for his wedding – which was reportedly attended by several members of the infamous Lucchese Crime Family
The court document states, “Perna would use his connections to the Lucchese Crime Family to arrange and commit an attack on Manzo’s ex-wife’s boyfriend, and in return, Manzo would allow Perna to use the wedding venue at a sharp discount’.
Perna, together with an ‘accomplice’, allegedly tracked down the victim in a parking lot of a strip mall in New Jersey.
Perna then used a slapjack, a club weapon favored by gangsters, to “permanently injure” Cantin’s face during the savage attack, court papers show.
After the attack, Manzo kept his end of the bargain and provided Perna with the glamorous wedding venue at a much lower rate.
“The reception was attended by more than 330 guests, many of whom were members of the Lucchese Crime Family,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig.
Five years later, Perna and his accomplice were indicted for the crimes.
The gangster pleaded guilty to committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activities and was sentenced to almost three years in prison – before being released in August last year.
It is not clear whether his associate ever stood trial for his role in the attack.
However, a federal judge dismissed the charges against Manzo earlier this year, saying numerous delays in the case led to a violation of his right to a “speedy trial.”
“The last day on which Mr. Manzo could be brought to trial on the charges under the (law) was December 10, 2022,” read an earlier filing in federal court filed on January 19.
“But an effective continuation was not signed until almost eleven months later,” the report continued.
“There is no doubt that this case involves a violation of the (Speedy Trial Act)… the charges against Mr. Manzo must be dismissed,” the filing concluded.
Last month, Manzo was re-indicted on the same charges, including one count of violent crime in aid of racketeering activity, conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon, and falsifying and concealing records relating to a federal investigation.
Manzo is co-owner of The Brownstone location with his brother Albert. It is based in Paterson, New Jersey
Gangster John Perna, 44 years old – a member of the Lucchese crime family – was found guilty of the 2015 attack in 2021 and sentenced to two and a half years
Dina and her second husband were allegedly beaten by her ex and another attacker in Holmdel in 2017
In addition to arranging the attack, Manzo was also accused of falsifying and concealing records when federal authorities investigating the attack searched the location for documents related to the wedding.
In response to those subpoenas, Manzo had failed to hand over relevant documents and deliberately submitted a false document regarding receipt.
FBI agents then raided the venue in November last year and seized invoices for the wedding reception, as well as other relevant documents that had not previously been turned over.
Manzo has also filed suit in Monmouth County, alleging that he and another mystery man broke into Dina and Cantin’s Holmdel home before beating the man with a bat, physically assaulting her and then leaving the couple robbed in May 2017.
The next hearing on the case will take place on April 29, prosecutors announced The NY Post.
Manzo and Dina married in 2005 in a big Italian wedding before splitting in 2012 and divorcing in 2016, with their marriage on the verge of collapse at the time of the assault.
Manzo is co-owner of the Brownstone location with his brother Albert. The location appeared on episodes of the RHONJ when Dina was on the show.