'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star's ex-husband sentenced to seven years in prison

NEWARK, NJ – Thomas Manzo, the ex-husband of a “Real Housewives of New Jersey” cast member, was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in prison convicted of hiring a man to attack his ex-wife's boyfriend.

Manzo, 59, was convicted of a violent crime involving racketeering, conspiracy and forgery. He could have faced up to 46 years in prison.

Prosecutors said that in 2015, Manzo hired John Perna, who they said was a soldier in the Lucchese crime family, to attack the man in exchange for a free wedding reception at Manzo's catering hall. The attack occurred this summer and the wedding reception took place a month later.

“Whether you are actually in the Mafia or not, hiring the gang to attack someone because of your marital problems is abhorrent. “We will spare no resources to hold anyone who commits such crimes accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger.

Perna previously pleaded guilty to committing a violent crime in aid of extortion and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. He was released in August.

Dina Manzo, who appeared on the show, has since married the man who was attacked.