Lucchese crime family member sentenced to prison for aggravated assault

CEDAR GROVE, NJ — A member of the Lucchese crime family was sentenced to 30 months in prison for planning and carrying out an aggravated assault on the husband of one of the former stars of the Bravo television show “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced June 10.

John Perna, 44, of Cedar Grove, previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to count one of an indictment charging him with committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity. The indictment also charges Thomas Manzo, 56, of Franklin Lakes.

According to documents filed in his case and his statements made in court, in the spring of 2015, Manzo, one of the owners of the Brownstone Restaurant in Paterson and the ex-husband of the Bravo star, hired Perna to assault his ex-wife’s new boyfriend — now husband — in exchange for a deeply discounted wedding reception to be held at Manzo’s upscale Passaic County venue. Perna, who is a member of the Lucchese crime family, planned and carried out the assault on July 18, 2015, with the help of a member of his crew. Perna was armed with a “slapjack” during the assault. A slapjack weapon typically consists of a flat and/or flexible skin containing a hard, heavy material to be swung at opponents. In exchange for committing the assault, Perna held a lavish wedding reception at Manzo’s restaurant a month later for a fraction of the price he would otherwise have paid. The reception was attended by more than 330 guests, many of whom were members of the Lucchese crime family.

In addition to the prison term, McNulty sentenced Perna to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $17,816 in restitution.

The charges and allegations in the indictment remaining against Manzo are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proved guilty.

  Sentencing, U.S. Attorney’s Office