The feds are at it again. Tommy Manzo is facing a fresh set of charges related to his alleged role in hiring a hitman named John Perna to beat up Dina Manzo’s new man, David Cantin. If this all sounds a bit familiar, it’s because this case has been dragging on for years.
The alleged crime happened back in 2015. The case has been tangled up in the court system since 2020. Last month, we learned that his charges had been dismissed because a judge ruled that the prosecution violated the Speedy Trial Act. That’s a provision that specifies required timelines for each step in a federal criminal case.
Just a few weeks after the judge dismissed the case, the New York Post reported that a new indictment had been filed in Newark federal court. It might have seemed like Tommy was getting off easy, but now, he’s right back in the same hot water.
Another federal indictment
When the judge dismissed Tommy’s charges back in February, she did so without prejudice. That kept the door open for prosecutors to revisit the case. At the time, the judge dismissing the charges noted that the crimes were “unquestionably serious.” That would explain why it didn’t take long for him to get reindicted. As a reminder, in exchange for roughing up David, Tommy allegedly offered John a heavily discounted rate for a wedding reception at The Brownstone.
In the court documents, prosecutors said “Manzo was outraged that his former wife became romantically involved with another man.”
They continued, “Rather than accept that, as law-abiding individuals do, Manzo wanted to exact physical revenge. Unwilling or incapable of doing so directly, he leveraged his catering hall.”
While all of this unfolds in court, the actual hitman has already served his time in prison. John confessed to attacking David and pleaded guilty to committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity. He was released from prison last summer, which goes to show just how slow Tommy’s case is moving.
TELL US – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW QUICKLY TOMMY WAS REINDICTED? DO YOU THINK THE CASE WILL MOVE FASTER THIS TIME?
