Montville, New Jersey – A former husband of a cast member from “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” has been found guilty of orchestrating a violent attack on his ex-wife’s current husband, federal prosecutors reported on Tuesday. Thomas Manzo, 59, was convicted of enlisting a member of the Lucchese Crime Family to carry out the assault in 2015, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. The motive behind the attack was revealed to be a free wedding reception provided by Manzo in exchange for the assault on his ex-wife’s partner.
Manzo faces charges of committing a violent crime in support of racketeering activity, plotting to commit a violent crime to cause bodily harm, and tampering with documents tied to a federal investigation. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger described the assault as “vicious,” resulting in severe injuries to the victim. The former reality TV star’s ex-husband was accused of hiring a mobster to carry out the attack, leading to his arrest in 2020.
John Perna, the alleged mobster responsible for the assault, pleaded guilty in December 2020 and was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison the following year. The incident occurred outside a strip mall in Passaic County, where Perna and his accomplice attacked the victim with a “slapjack” weapon. Authorities revealed that Manzo’s plan was to leave the victim with permanent facial scars.
Manzo could potentially face up to 20 years for two of the charges and three years for conspiracy, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. The sentencing for Manzo is set for October 15. Dina Manzo, the ex-wife involved, was a prominent member of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” cast in seasons one, two, and six. Manzo’s lawyer did not respond immediately for comments on the recent developments.