Reputed Lucchese Crime Family soldier John Perna plead guilty Wednesday to a charge that he planned and carried out a 2015 aggravated assault on the current husband of one of the former stars of the Bravo television show “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.”
Perna, 43, and Thomas Manzo, the ex-husband of one of the stars of the Bravo television show “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” were arrested months ago on charges they planned and carried out an assault of the Bravo star’s current husband in exchange for a lavish wedding reception.
U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said Perna plead guilty to charges he committed a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity. The hearing took place via video conference.
Perna faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in the case and a $250,000 fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 28,2021.
Thomas Manzo, 55, of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, and Perna of Cedar Grove, New Jersey, were each charged with committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity and conspiracy to commit a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity.
The indictment also charged Perna with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud related to a false car insurance claim.
Manzo was charged with falsifying and concealing records related to the federal investigation of the violent crime.
The indictment and court statements say that in the spring of 2015, Manzo, one of the owners of the Brownstone Restaurant in Paterson, New Jersey, allegedly hired Perna to assault his ex-wife’s then-boyfriend in exchange for a deeply discounted wedding reception for Perna held at the Brownstone.
According to the indictment, Perna, a “made man” in the Lucchese Crime Family with his own crew, along with his associates, planned and carried out the assault in July 2015.
In exchange for committing the assault, Perna allegedly received a lavish wedding reception at Manzo’s restaurant for a fraction of the price. The indictment says the deeply discounted wedding was paid for by another Lucchese associate and close friend of Manzo’s.
The August 2015 wedding reception was attended by approximately 330 people, and included many members of the Lucchese Crime Family and other mob associates.
The feds also charge that prior to Perna’s scheduled state prison sentence in January 2016, he falsely reported that his Mercedes Benz was stolen and destroyed.
Perna allegedly filed an insurance claim for the destruction of the Mercedes Benz in order for the balance due on the Mercedes Benz. However, Perna had allegedly staged the vehicle theft and arson with other members of the Lucchese Crime Family.
Investigators allege Manzo also falsified and concealed records related to the federal investigation of the July 2015 assault after federal grand jury subpoenas were sent to the Brownstone Restaurant seeking documents related to the August 2015 Perna wedding reception.
Manzo allegedly failed to turn over the relevant documents in response to those subpoenas and deliberately submitted a false document regarding the reception to the government, along with a false certification.
Last year FBI agents with the FBI executed a search warrant at the Brownstone Restaurant and seized records from the August 2015 Perna wedding reception and other documents that were not previously turned over.
Both Perna and Manzo face 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the violent crime in aid of racketeering activity count against them.
The conspiracy to commit the violent crime in aid of racketeering activity count against both defendants carries a maximum potential penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The mail fraud and wire fraud conspiracy count against Perna carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years of in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The falsifying and concealing records related to a federal investigation count against Manzo carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to U.S. Attorney Carpenito.
Senior Litigation Counsel V. Grady O’Malley and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendall Randolph of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark will prosecute the case.
John Perna was sentenced to 10 years in state prison back in January of 2016 on racketeering charges related to a multi million dollar gambling and money laundering operation. He was released early on parole.
Perna’s father, alleged mob captain Ralph Perna, and his brother, Joseph, were also sentenced in that same scheme.
