‘RHONJ’ Star’s Ex-Husband Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Hiring a Hitman to Assault New Husband
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The ex-husband of Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dina Cantin has been sentenced to 7 years in prison for hiring a hitman to assault her now-husband.
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Thomas Manzo was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in hiring a hitman from the Lucchese crime family to assault Cantin’s then-boyfriend, David Cantin.
Manzo, 59 — the owner of The Brownstone catering hall in Paterson, NJ — reportedly promised reputed mobster John Perna a free wedding catered at the venue in exchange for assaulting his would-be rival, which Perna did with a slapjack back in 2015. Perna, who pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his role in the crime.
Reality TV personality Dina Manzo speaks during the curtain call at the opening night of “My Big Gay Italian Wedding” at St. Luke’s Theatre on September 1, 2010 in New York City. Manzo (now Dina Cantin)’s husband was sentenced to 7 years in prison.
Jemal Countess/Getty Images
The RHONJ star’s ex also reportedly had a role in the couple’s 2017 home invasion, which left the pair wounded and resulted in Cantin’s $60,000 engagement ring being stolen.
Manzo was sentenced to seven years in prison on October 15, having been found guilty of one count of committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering, one count of conspiracy to commit a violent crime in aid of racketeering, and one count of falsifying and concealing documents related to a federal investigation. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release.
“Whether you’re actually in the Mafia or not, hiring the mob to assault someone because of your marital problems is abhorrent,” U.S. Attorney Sellinger said at Manzo’s sentencing. “Covering up the role you played only makes it worse. The jury’s verdict, and today’s sentence, make clear that this office will spare no resources to hold accountable anyone who commits such crimes.”
Television Personality Dina Manzo attends the White Party hosted by Dina Manzo and Teresa Giudice at Woodbury Country Club on July 21, 2014, in Woodbury, New York. Manzo, now Dina Cantin, had no comment about her ex-husband’s sentencing.
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Court documents revealed that the U.S. Attorney’s office was originally seeking a 10-year term for the RHONJ star’s ex-husband, and made a deal with Manzo early in the trial where he’d serve a maximum of 14 months for his role in the crime. Manzo refused the deal.
Additionally, Manzo pleaded guilty to fourth-degree stalking charges in Superior Court in Monmouth County for what the U.S. Attorney’s office claimed was “witness tampering” on his part — a charge which Manzo’s lawyer disputed.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey star had no comment about the sentencing at press time.