Mobster Pleads in Plot Against 'Real Housewives' Boyfriend, U.S. Says

[Eugene]

Related:
• Lucchese Crime Family Soldier Admits Aggravated Assault (U.S. Attorney's Office - District of New Jersey)
• Alleged mobster pleads guilty to assaulting 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star's husband (NBC News)

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Source: New York Times:

Mobster Pleads in Plot Against ‘Real Housewives’ Boyfriend, U.S. Says

A man who was dating a former New Jersey “housewife” was beaten up. Her ex-husband asked a Lucchese crime family member to commit the assault, prosecutors say.

By Liam Stack
Dec. 16, 2020

The sordid and violent tale laid out by federal prosecutors seemed ripped from “The Sopranos”: A well-connected ex-husband, angry that his former wife had found a new boyfriend, enticed a New Jersey mobster to beat the boyfriend up by dangling the prospect of a cut-rate deal on a flashy wedding reception.

And, in fact, the case did turn out to have a link to a television show — the victim, Dave Cantin, was dating Dina Manzo, a former cast member of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.”

The weapon prosecutors said was used in the attack also seemed like something out of a scripted plot — a slapjack, a small club weighed down at one end and designed to inflict severe pain but not necessarily life-threatening injuries.

On Wednesday, John Perna, who prosecutors said was a member of the Lucchese crime family, pleaded guilty to his role in the plot. It was unclear how much prison time he faces. The man prosecutors say was his accomplice, Thomas Manzo, the ex-husband, pleaded not guilty in June and will stand trial in April.

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Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/16/nyregion/mafia-attack-real-housewives.html

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Source: NBC News

Alleged mobster pleads guilty to assaulting 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star's husband

Dec. 16, 2020, 3:59 PM EST
By Minyvonne Burke

An alleged mobster pleaded guilty Wednesday to assaulting the husband of "Housewives of New Jersey" star Dina Manzo.

John Perna, 43, of Cedar Grove, New Jersey, admitted to planning and attacking David Cantin outside a strip mall in July 2015. Cantin was not named in a press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey.

Perna was enlisted by Manzo's ex-husband, Thomas Manzo, to assault Cantin and leave a "permanent facial scar," according to prosecutors and an indictment. Perna was a member of one of New York City's most notorious organized crime groups, the Lucchese Crime Family, authorities said.

Thomas Manzo, the co-owner of a New Jersey restaurant and wedding venue, offered to give Perna a free or discounted wedding in exchange for carrying out the assault, according to investigators.

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Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1251467

[no_hypocrisy]

1. I believe this incident was predictable, but not for an obvious reason.

The "Housewives" franchises depend on drama. The series would not have survived with these women shopping and drinking wine and bitching about each other. Andy Cohen and the producers "encourage" the Housewives to do something to keep their names in the papers and on the internet. For example, Teresa Giudice (RHONJ) is not an exciting character, save for an initial restaurant table flip. She's gone bankrupt. She's been in jail. Her ex-husband has been in jail. Her ex-husband was deported. She divorced her husband. She put her house up for sale. She found a new boyfriend. She kissed her new boyfriend in public. Don't think that Andy Cohen hasn't been thrilled with the mileage he's put on this vehicle.

Dina Manzo (another RHONJ cast member) likely was encouraged by the producers to find another boyfriend ASAP after her divorce, and to make sure he wasn't an insurance salesman, so to speak. And knowing what a hothead her ex- was/is, it was predictable he would do something stupid, which only benefitted the Housewives franchise. He's still part of the series, which in theory should elevated ratings and renewal for another season.

The trouble is someone (new BF or Dina Manzo) could have been injured or worse with this stunt.