The former spouse of Dina Manzo, a renowned cast member from "Real Housewives of New Jersey," faced the stern consequences of his actions on Tuesday, receiving a seven-year prison sentence for orchestrating a heinous attack on her then-boyfriend, enlisting the aid of an alleged mobster. The perpetrator of this sinister plot, Thomas Manzo, a 59-year-old resident of Franklin Lakes, will also be subjected to three years of rigorous supervised release upon his eventual release, as dictated by the sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Susan Wigenton.
In June, a federal jury unanimously convicted Manzo of conspiracy, the falsification and concealment of documents, and the commission of a violent crime in furtherance of racketeering activities. The chilling details unraveled a twisted tale where Manzo, seeking revenge, hired John Perna—a reputed enforcer within the Lucchese crime family—to brutally assault Dina Manzo's significant other in July 2015, using a weapon to inflict harm.
Prosecutors painted a vivid picture, revealing that Perna's lavish wedding reception, a month later, was hosted by none other than Thomas Manzo himself at a restaurant in Paterson, where he held partial ownership. This lavish affair, a twisted form of gratitude, only served to underscore the depths of Manzo's deceit and depravity.
Perna, for his part in this sordid affair, pleaded guilty in December 2020 to a violent crime in support of racketeering and was sentenced to two and a half years behind bars. He regained his freedom in August 2023, while Dina Manzo's former boyfriend has since become her beloved husband, a testament to the resilience that often blossoms amidst adversity.
