In the new series Housewives of New Jersey, everyone seems like a Soprano. But are they? Using PACER, we looked up some criminal records. And the answer is: Kinda sorta they are!
Joseph Giudice (pictured, right): Husband of Teresa, the crazy flat-chested wife. He's an "entrepreneur." Also, in 2006, he was arrested for drunk driving in Atlantic City. That landed him a sentence serving "weekends" and when he went to serve his weekend prison time he had the shit kicked out of him by "Officers Hendrick, Juzwiak, Hall, Parisi and Valencia, and others whose identities are presently unknown to plaintiff."
He sued for $700,000 (see below) and didn't win anything.
Albert Manzo Husband of Caroline Manzo, brother in law of Dina Manzo, owner of the Brownstone. Correction: Manzo's attorney says this case involved a different guy also named Albert Manzo. In 2001, Mr. Manzo was charged with one count of "Interference with commerce by threat or violence" by the United States of America. On October 29th, 2001, the case was closed. Sadly no record of the outcome is available on line.
Christopher Laurita: Husband of the genuinely nice (seeming) Jacqueline, has no record of either criminal, civil or bankcruptcy filings.
And funnily, that's it because two of the five housewives aren't actually wives at all and therefore could not possibly have criminal husbands.
[DISCLAIMER: Though I attempted the best I could to use household searches to ensure that these actually were the men on the show—whether they share a house with someone named, for instance, Teresa Giudice-it is conceivable these are the criminal records of their name-twin dopplegangers. If so, sorry guys! Don't break my kneecaps!]
