'Real Housewives Of NJ' Star's Ex Admits Stalking Her, Her Husband

HOLMDEL, NJ — Former “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Thomas Manzo is facing three years in state prison for stalking his ex-wife and her husband in connection with a violent invasion of their home in Holmdel, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said.

Manzo, 59, of Franklin Lakes, pled guilty to two counts of stalking before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Joseph Oxley on Oct. 23, prosecutors said.

During the hearing, Manzo provided a full account of stalking his ex-wife Dina Cantin and her then-boyfriend (now husband) David Cantin from 2015 through 2019.

Manzo’s guilty plea comes after he was sentenced to seven years in prison for hiring a Lucchese crime family member to assault David Cantin in 2015.

According to federal officials, Manzo was convicted of hiring the Lucchese family “soldier” to assault Cantin in exchange for a wedding reception at Manzo’s banquet hall.

The jury convicted him of committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit a violent crime in aid of racketeering, and falsifying and concealing documents related to a federal investigation, officials said.

Read: 'Real Housewives Of NJ' Star From Bergen County Gets 7 Years In Prison

Holmdel Police began investigating Manzo in 2017 when they were called to a Banyan Boulevard townhouse for a home-invasion robbery, prosecutors said.

Officers found the Cantins had freed themselves from zip ties after being beaten with a baseball bat. According to prosecutors, the Cantins had also been robbed of their new engagement ring and $500 in cash.

DNA evidence later linked James Mainello, 51, of Bayonne, to the home invasion.

The discovery led to Mainello’s arrest in May 2019, when he was charged with robbery, burglary, second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree aggravated assault, theft, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and criminal restraint, prosecutors said.

The investigation also uncovered Manzo’s role in stalking the Cantins and that he was aware of the robbery and assault carried out by Mainello and another unidentified man.

Mainello previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree armed robbery in May 2023, prosecutors said. A condition of Maniello’s plea was that Manzo also plead guilty to his charges.

Mainello will face up to seven years in state prison, subject to the conditions of New Jersey’s No Early Release Act, Santiago said. The act mandates that 85% of the sentence be served prior to the possibility of parole.

Manzo and Mainello’s sentencing has been scheduled for Dec. 13.

Related:

• 'Real Housewives Of NJ' Star From Bergen County Gets 7 Years In Prison
• Man Indicted In Violent 2017 Holmdel Home Invasion Of RHONJ Star