Ex-Husband of 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' Star Sentenced to 84 Months for Assault Scheme

Today, Thomas Manzo (to right), ex-husband of a 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star, was sentenced to 84 months in prison.Photo byImage: Tysonomo Multimedia

Thomas Manzo, 59, of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, was sentenced today to 84 months in federal prison for orchestrating and aiding an assault on his ex-wife's current husband with the assistance of a Lucchese Crime Family soldier, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey announced.

Manzo, co-owner of The Brownstone, was convicted by a federal jury on June 4, 2024, following a two-and-a-half week trial, the departent says.

He was 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 during a federal investigation, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

According to court documents and trial evidence, in the spring of 2015, Manzo hired John Perna, a soldier in the Lucchese Crime Family, to assault his ex-wife's then-boyfriend.

In exchange for the attack, Manzo provided Perna with a free wedding reception at The Brownstone, the department says.

On July 18, 2015, Perna and members of his crew carried out the assault. The wedding took place the following month, attended by approximately 330 guests, many of whom were members of the Lucchese Crime Family.

In 2019, when Manzo was subpoenaed by a grand jury investigating the incident, he concealed and falsified documents related to the Perna wedding, according to the department.

In addition to the 84-month prison sentence, Manzo must serve three years of supervised release and remanded him into custody immediately, the department stated.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized that this case demonstrates their commitment to holding individuals accountable for engaging in organized crime and violent acts.

“Whether you’re actually in the Mafia or not, hiring the mob to assault someone because of your marital problems is abhorrent. 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,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger in a statement.