Thanks to all who sent email today about the indictment of Tommy Manzo. It took me by surprise because the assault on Dina Manzo and her boyfriend at the time, Dave Cantin who is now her husband happened in May of 2017. As I reported then, Dina Manzo and her millionaire boyfriend, David Cantin, were the victims of a brutal home invasion over the weekend, multiple sources report. The two were returning to their home in Holmdel, New Jersey Saturday night when they discovered intruders in their home.
Two masked intruders attacked Cantin with a baseball bat and repeatedly punched Manzo in the face. They were then tied up together as the robbers made off with cash and jewelry. They were able to free themselves and were taken to the hospital with extensive facial injures.
Then in June of 2020 I posted about Tommy’s Manzo’s arrest.
“Dina (formerly Manzo) Cantin’s ex-husband was arrested today for allegedly plotting an assault on her current husband in 2015. Two years later there was another attack that appears to be unrelated so far. But, perhaps they need to take a look at that one too. Click here for the details.
Manzo Allegedly Had Mob Connections
U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said 55-year-old Thomas Manzo, of Franklin Lakes, hired Lucchese-linked mobster John Perna, 43, of Cedar Grove, to attack the then-boyfriend of ex-wife, Dina Manzo. Tommy offered to greatly reduce the price of Perna’s upcoming wedding reception in exchange for the attack. Manzo was charged with conspiracy to commit a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity. The attack occurred in July of 2015 and the wedding reception happened the following August. More than 330 people attended including numerous members of the Lucchese crime family.”
So there were two separate incidents on in 2015 and again in 2017. Tommy was not arrested until June of 2020. Today, a grand jury indicted Thomas Manzo, 56, of Franklin Lakes, and James Minello, 53 of Bayonne on charges of robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, criminal restraint and a weapons offense, Manzo was also charged with two counts of stalking his ex-wife and her now husband, Dave Cantin. Manzo surrendered to police and is currently in jail awaiting his first appearance before a judge.
How very Jersey.
Good! I recall trolls accusing Dina of staging this…how disgusting. I hope he is given a tough sentence.
Well, Thanksgiving at caroline’s will be awkward.
I wonder if this is why their relationship seems to be irreparably damaged. It’s a good reason for it to be
I want to make sure I am remembering this correctly. Dina’s ex husband and Caroline’s husband are brothers, right?
Correct
I think so. Remember how they talked about him like he was a God??
He seems lovely. /s
Allegedly. (vomit)
Wow. I had forgotten about that. I would be horrified if Caroline and her husband could explain this away. Her sister was punched in the face!!! I always liked Dina, I hope she and her husband are ok.
Thank you, LA- I was scratching my head trying to remember or understand why the last names were the same. But, Jesus- holy crap. I still want to understand why Dina and Caroline won’t talk? They are sisters- if my husband’s brother did something like this to my sister, I sure as hell know who’s side I would be on- and it wouldn’t be my husband’s low-life brother, that’s for damn sure. I feel like there must be more to the Dina/Caroline rift- unless Caroline is stubbornly siding with her husband’s family? This is messed up…
Their feud started before this, maybe during Dina’s divorce. Not sure what that did to the settlement and the brownstone money, which is what I think pissed off Caroline. I dunno just speculation, but wow that guy is a real POS, throw the book at him if he’s convicted. I love how people think they can get away with it, not thinking the lowlife drug you hired to do the job with flip on you to get a reduced sentence.
I bet it was a beautiful wedding. I am sure they’re a lovely couple living their best life in marital bliss. /s
Truth is eviler than fiction. Allegedly, I suppose.
As much as I loved watching Caroline during her time on RHONJ, there’s no sugarcoating this shit. This is anything but a healthy “fambly” dynamic. And if Caroline and Al are really as “Law & Order” as they claim to be, they need to come clean to the authorities on anything and everything they know about Tommy’s criminal activities.
There are no excuses for what happened to Dina and Dave. NO EXCUSES.
Remember Caroline’s comment, “we are as thick as thieves and will protect each other til the end.” That must not have included Dina.
Remember Caroline’s comment, “we are as thick as thieves and will protect each other til the end.” That must not have included Dina.
This whole thing is fucked up. Like, did your brother OK getting your sister punched in the face. I cannot even be still, thinking about that. It is just weird. My sister makes me mad but I would fucking kill anyone that would ever think they could touch her.
How very Jersey!! lol classic TT
I’m still shocked it wasn’t the Genovese family. I don’t know why, but the Manzos struck me as Genovese types.
Was thinking when the manzo boys said they didn’t have a relationship with Dina anymore.. guess the fambily really isn’t as thick as thieves!?
This is insane!!!!! And scary!
Also, how does Dina always find wealthy men? When going on a date is it just know that she doesn’t work and takes afternoon bathes with lavender and crystals. Not hating! I’m a Dina fan! I just wish I knew what I am doing wrong and how to find a rich good looking man that will worship me? I would love to live on a farm, not work and take afternoon bathes.
Be careful what you wish for. One of those rich men just allegedly hired someone to assault her and her new husband. I’d take a good guy with old-fashioned values before a rich guy like her ex. Taking a bath after a hard day’s work will always be better than getting your face smashed in and being tied up, not knowing if you’re going to live or die.
Truly, this is crazy. I can’t believe this is how anyone really behaves. I watch a lot of Dateline and still I am shocked. I can’t imagine what her life was like with him knowing how low he is willing to *allegedly* go.
She will forever have to look over her shoulder, maybe even moreso now. Yep… The big, tough, bad boys with all of their riches are hot and sexy until they have you tied up (in a not fun way) on the bathroom floor. I feel really bad for her, but we know that she knew he was a mobster when she got with him. I’m not making excuses for what happened to her… it’s absolutely horrific. I’m just coming back to my second sentence. I will be praying for her for sure. The whole thing makes me feel sick inside.
Farm life is a hella lot of work. JS.
Just ask Julia (sorry, 90 Day crossover joke).
I was today years old when realizing that they were sisters who married brothers. I was all confused reading this. Goodness this explains a LOT and I can see why Dina doesn’t speak to Caroline.
My timeline must be off. I thought the assault happened AFTER she moved to California.
I wonder if Tommy continued to work at the Brownstone after the incident occurred and the investigation began. Did Al know about the deep discount to the mob family? If so, did he question why his brother gave it? Do Al and Caroline believe Tommy to be innocent? Boy, I have so many questions!!
There was another assault where she was punched in the face, property stolen and the”robbers” basically said something to her about this is what you get for messing with people from Patterson.
Caroline said she was going to wait and see who actually was lying before she MAY support her sister.
Did Caroline say that recently or back when the assault happened?
She said it when this finally came to light after the guy was caught and he dropped the dime on Tommy and how he paid him off in a discount wedding fee at the Brownstone. That kinda tells me she knew something about this from the start.
She said “We are heartbroken,” Caroline, 58, told XXXXX. “This is family on both sides. I want to know the truth and my allegiance will lie with the truth.”
Ummmm…I think she already knew the truth with the first incident where David got bashed only. The second one her sister could have been killed but of course if that happened they would she would have still protected her family just not Dina being part of that family.
Sad…very sad that Dina was judged as this being a hoax and all the while someone knew it a hit and said nothing. Dina had to have know where the attack came from and I give her major props for having the courage to stay silent until he got caught.
Jesus- I’m all for supporting your husband, but if this is true, Caroline is a real piece of shit. I kind of liked her, but at other times I thought she was a bit of a bully who could be kind of full of herself- so IDK.
Dina and her boyfriend (at the time) came back for Teresa’s daugher Audriana’s First Communion when this happened.
I also thought the assault was in California…and in a hotel room. I wonder how Chris Laurita feels about this. Wow!!! Was Tommy upset because she ended the marriage?
You can’t make this shit up with these people. Anyone with an ounce of brains had a ‘feeling’ not all was kosher with that manzo family. If I were Dina, I’d get an entire different name because the fear she must have is frightening. I hope he rots in jail that weasly looking little rat. NEVER found him attractive and they had a very strange marriage. Remember season 1 where she always said he was never home, they had date night once a week and he was never on camera?
I always knew that the Manzo clean deserved to be on Mob Wives instead of Real Housewives.
Dina has always been my favorite housewife. I respected her when she left during season 2 & was thrilled when she returned then left again. Something about her has always fascinated me & I think she has accomplished so much more than just riding the housewives train of infamy. I hope she is happy & living her best life. I would live her to return to RHONJ even for a few episodes as a friend. Beautiful accomplished intelligent creative women like Dina Manzo are who I want to see on Bravo !
Me too,about Dina- always liked her, but never fully trusted Mrs. ” Our Fambly isTic as Teeves” Manzo. Something about her made the hairs on my neck stand up (even though she was well liked.