The ex-husband of former “Real Housewives of New Jersey” character Dina Cantin, previously Dina Manzo, will serve seven years in jail for hiring a mobster to assault the TV star’s then-boyfriend, the U.S. Attorney’s Office United States for the district of New Jersey announced Tuesday.
Thomas Manzo, who was married to the podcast host from 2005 to 2016, was convicted of hiring after which serving to a identified mobster assault Dave Cantin, the TV star’s now-husband, in 2015. Also Manzo, 59 , was sentenced to 3 years of probation along with his jail time period.
Manzo was convicted in June of conspiracy, forgery and concealment of paperwork and of committing a violent crime in furtherance of racketeering exercise. A authorized consultant for Manzo didn’t instantly reply to The Times’ request for touch upon Wednesday.
“Whether you’re truly mafia or not, hiring the mafia to assault somebody due to your marital issues is abhorrent. Hiding the position you performed solely makes issues worse,” the U.S. lawyer stated. Philip R. Sellinger stated within the announcement. “The jury’s verdict, and at this time’s sentencing, clarify that this workplace will spare no sources to carry accountable anybody who commits these crimes.”
Prosecutors, throughout an almost three-week trial earlier this 12 months, alleged that Manzo employed John Perna of the Lucchese crime household to hold out the July 2015 assault on Dave Cantin in alternate for a free wedding ceremony reception . The assault, prosecutors stated, left Cantin with important accidents.
A month after the assault, Perna held an extravagant reception for about 330 attendees at Manzo’s Brownstone Restaurant. While below federal investigation, Manzo hid and falsified paperwork associated to the wedding, prosecutors alleged. Perna pleaded responsible to the assault in December 2020 and was sentenced to 2 and a half years in jail. It was launched in August 2023.
Dina Cantin, 52, has been an on-and-off “RHONJ” forged member for the reason that sequence premiered in 2009, however she left the truth present during his move to the West Coast. She and Manzo separated in 2012 and finalized their divorce in 2016.
In June 2017, Dina and Dave Cantin acquired married. A consultant for Dina Cantin didn’t instantly reply to The Times’ request for touch upon Wednesday, however the TV star shared an optimistic quote from author Bianca Sparacino on her Instagram throughout her ex-husband’s sentencing.
“Because on the finish of the day, the fitting individuals combat for you. The proper individuals present up,” the expired Instagram story reads. “The proper individuals care, not simply when life is handy, however when it is exhausting, messy, and hurts throughout.”
Times sWriter Angie Orellana Hernandez and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
