RHONJ star Dina Manzo's ex-husband is freed on bail after 'hiring a mobster to beat up her new husband in return for a discounted wedding at his catering hall'

The ex-husband of Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dina Manzo has been freed on bail after 'hiring a mobster to beat up her new husband for a discounted wedding at his catering hall'.

According to federal court documents, New Jersey restauranteur Tommy Manzo posted a $100,000 bond ahead of his trial for racketeering charges, which is scheduled to begin on May 20.

As part of his bail agreement, Manzo handed in his passport and is forbidden from traveling outside New Jersey and New York until the case is decided.

Manzo was indicted on federal charges in 2020 for allegedly hiring a member of the notorious Lucchese crime family to beat up David Cantin, 44 - Dina's, 51, then-boyfriend and now-husband in 2015.

In return for carrying out the attack, Manzo allegedly offered suspected mobster John Perna, 44, a heavily discounted wedding reception at his catering hall, The Brownstone, in Paterson.

Dina Manzo's, 51, ex-husband, Tommy Manzo (seen with Dina) has been freed on a $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 up 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 heavy discount at his banqueting hall for his wedding - which was allegedly attended by several members of the infamous Lucchese Crime Family

The court document states: 'Perna was to use his connections to the Lucchese Crime Family to arrange for, and commit, an assault on the boyfriend of Manzo's ex-wife, and in return, Manzo would allow Perna to use the wedding venue at a steep discount'.

Perna, along with an 'accomplice', reportedly tracked down the victim to a parking lot of a New Jersey strip mall.

Perna then used a slapjack, a club weapon favored by mobsters, to 'inflict a permanent injury' on Cantin's face in the savage attack, according to court papers.

Following the attack, Manzo then upheld his end of the bargain, and provided Perna the glamorous wedding venue at a much lower rate.

'The reception was attended by over 330 guests, many of whom were members of the Lucchese Crime Family,' said Acting US Attorney Rachael Honig.

Five years later, Perna and his accomplice were indicted for the crimes.

The mobster pleaded guilty to committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity and was sentenced to nearly three years in prison - before being released in August last year.

It is not clear whether his associate ever went on trial for his role in the attack.

A federal judge dismissed the charges against Manzo earlier this year, however, because numerous delays in the case led to a violation of his right to a 'speedy trial'. 

'The last day that Mr. Manzo could have been brought to trial on the Indictment in compliance with the [law] was December 10, 2022,' a previous federal court filing, submitted on January 19th, read.

'But no effective continuance was signed until nearly eleven months later,' it went on.

'There is no question that there has been a violation of the [Speedy Trial Act] in this case… the indictment against Mr. Manzo must be dismissed,' the filing concluded.

Last month, Manzo was re-indicted on the same charges, which include one count each of violent crime in aid of racketeering activity, conspiracy to commit an assault with a dangerous weapon, and falsifying and concealing records related to a federal investigation.

Manzo co-owns The Brownstone venue with his brother Albert. It is based in Paterson, New Jersey

Mobster John Perna, 44 - a member of the Lucchese crime family - was found guilty of the 2015 attack in 2021, and sentenced to two-and-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 assault, Manzo was also accused of falsifying and concealing records when federal authorities investigating the assault searched the venue for documents related to the wedding.

Manzo had failed to turn over relevant documents in response to those subpoenas and deliberately submitted a false document regarding the reception.

FBI agents then raided the venue in November last year and seized invoices for the wedding reception, as well as other relevant documents, that were not previously turned over.

Manzo also has pending state charges in Monmouth County, that allege he and another mystery man broke into Dina and Cantin's home in Holmdel, before beating the husband with a bat, physically assaulting her and then robbing the pair in May 2017.

The next hearing regarding that case is set to take place on April 29, state prosecutors revealed to The NY Post.

Manzo and Dina married in 2005, in a big-fat Italian wedding, before breaking up in 2012 and divorcing in 2016, with their marriage on the way out at the time of the assault.

Manzo co-owns the Brownstone venue with his brother Albert. The venue appeared in episodes of the RHONJ when Dina was on the show.