Joe Gorga, Chris Laurita and Jacqueline Laurita Charged in Assault Case Against Johnny ‘The Greek’ Karagiorgis; Lauritas and Gorga File Counter-complaints Against Karagiorgis

Caption: ‘Real Housewives of New Jersey’ star Jacqueline Laurita, along with her husband Chris Laurita (center) and lawyer, walked out of the Ridgewood Police Department just before 3 PM, Thursday, April 4, 2013.

STAFF PHOTO BY KEVIN R. WEXLER

Caption: John Karagiorgis in a photo provided by his lawyers, Sekas & Abrahamsen, LLC (click image to enlarge photo).

PHOTO COURTESY OF SEKAS & ABRAHAMSEN, LLC

Anyone who attacks someone while being held by 4 security makes you a coward. PERIOD!!! NOT OVER!!! – John Karagiorgis (@JohnnytheGreek), April 1, 2013, Twitter

The following is the latest account from NewJersey.com about the assault charges filed against Joe Gorga, Chris Laurita and Jacqueline Laurita:

John Karagiorgis “stated he was punched in the left eye and in the nose by Joe Gorga.” Gorga yelled, “I’ll [expletive] kill you,” as Karagiorgis was repeatedly punched in the head. Gorga then allegedly walked around the camera crew. That’s when Christopher Laurita punched Karagiorgis on the left side of the head with a closed fist. Laurita similarly threatened to kill Karagiorgis, the complaint alleged. “Mr. Gorga then emerged from behind the victim and again punched him with a closed fist… This time, he struck him in the back of the head.” Next, “Jacqueline Laurita then struck the victim in the forehead with the heel of a stiletto type shoe. Eventually, security for the television show was able to separate all parties involved without any further incidents.”

According to the Ridgewood-Glenrock Patch on April 3, 2013, Penny Drossos’ husband John Karagiorgis (@JohnnytheGrk in the photo above with Pete Giudice at the season 4 Posche Fashion Show) filed a citizen complaint against Joe Gorga and Chris Laurita, accusing them of assaulting him at the grand opening of Posche 2 in Ridgewood, NJ on March 30, 2013.

On April 5, 2013, NorthJersey.com reported that the municipal judge in the case determined there is sufficient probable cause to charge three cast mates — Joe Gorga, Chris Laurita and Jacqueline Laurita — with assault. An initial hearing for Joe Gorga and the Lauritas has been set for April 18.

Three cast members from “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” including star Jacqueline Laurita, will be charged with assault and terroristic threats following a ruling Thursday evening by municipal Judge David Pfund. Pfund determined Thursday that sufficient probable cause existed for the charges — stemming from a bloody attack at a grand opening at a clothing boutique over the weekend — to proceed against Laurita, her husband Christopher, and Joe Gorga. John Karagiorgis, an employee of Clifton’s popular Rutt’s Hut, claims the Lauritas and Gorga attacked him Saturday night during the event, which was being filmed for the popular Bravo show. According to Ridgewood Municipal Court Administrator Maria Doerr, counter-complaints filed Thursday afternoon against Karagiorgis by the Lauritas and Gorga were not heard last night. A probable cause hearing on both counter-claims will be held next week, Doerr said. Since the charges approved Thursday night are for indictable offenses, the case will be forwarded on to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. – NorthJersey.com

Jacqueline Laurita allegedly hit John on the head with her high-heeled shoe. This is not the first physical altercation in which Jacqueline allegedly has been involved: she hit an ex boyfriend, she punched Caroline in the face, and (based on what Ashlee said on camera) she later laughed about Ashlee pulling Danielle’s hair and ripping out her weave.

“I am friends with Ashlee, Jacqueline’s daughter. Last season all the beef between them was because Ashlee knows about her mother’s past as a stripper, and Jacqueline had a lot of guilt due to that and was afraid Ashlee would hint at her past on the show. This is why Ashlee moved out to Cali on money she made from the show, even though her parents made it seem like a ploy on their part to get Ashlee out of the house. Jac became so paranoid, and was trying to use whatever excuse she could to get her daughter to move away due to the skeletons in her closet. Also Ashley was told by her mom in Season 2? to threaten Danielle Staub, make fake facebook pages, and do other things to hurt Danielle in order to continue living in her home (she told me). Ashley was so tired of her mother acting like a goody-two shoes on TV when she hasn’t been the most perfect mother. She was also tired of the Manzo kids acting like they had their shit together, while making fun of her on TV when they were still getting money from their parents. It’s also why Ashley got the tattoo of the skull head on the back of her wrist as a reminder to always be honest to herself and to never keep any skeletons in her closet like her mom and other members of the family.” – Nick, September 28, 2012, Fame-Whorgas

The owner of Moxie Salon claims that John Karagiorgis said something at the grand opening about the Laurita’s son, which he has adamantly denied on Twitter:

Don’t believe it. I’ve never spoken negatively about any child. NEVER!!! – John Karagiorgis (@JohnnytheGreek), April 1, 2013, Twitter

Children are the only weakness I’m proud to have. I would protect all children as if they were my own. – John Karagiorgis (@JohnnytheGreek), April 1, 2013, Twitter

I’ve never disrespected any child. Period. – John Karagiorgis ‏(@JohnnyTheGrk), April 1, 2013, Twitter

I never did!!! FACT!!! – John Karagiorgis ‏(@JohnnyTheGrk), April 1, 2013, Twitter

I’ll say this and only this – I have never seen u Tweet any such or make a comment of Nicholas. – Retweeted by John Karagiorgis (@JohnnytheGreek), April 1, 2013, Twitter

A source told Fame-Whorgas that Karagiorgis (JTG) never said anything about Nicholas at the event or at any other time [perhaps the Gorgas or Bravo producers told the Lauritas that Karagiorgis said something and they took it as the truth]:

Joe Gorga was the first to confront JTG, asking him, “Who’s telling you all this info”, and Joe had security get behind JTG and apparently this is when Joe took a shot or lunged at JTG, who tossed Joe off of him and onto the sinks (which is how they got broken). Joe threw the first punch and then Chris charged at JTG, shouting something like, “You made fun of my son”, which is how the rumor started; JTG replied, “I didn’t say sh-t about your son,” and when JTG turned away, Chris took a cheap shot at him and Jacqueline hit him in the forehead with her stiletto type shoe. In self-defense, JTG tossed Chris into the wall. Security tackled JTG, and JTG shouted, “You’re all a bunch of f-cking p-ssies, swinging at people being held.” JTG didn’t get carried out, he walked out, and Bravo security (off duty cops) apologized, saying, “It wasn’t supposed to go down this way.” JTG went immediately to the police station to file a report, where they took pictures of his injuries.

The NY Post also reported on the story and said that when reached at home, Karagiorgis referred questions to his lawyer.

The following report from People magazine claims the Lauritas and Gorga have filed counter-complaints against Karagiorgis:

The Lauritas and Gorga filed counter-complaints against Karagiorgis. A probable cause hearing on the counter-claims will be held next week, according to the Record.

“It was a huge brawl,” Jennifer Dunn, a local salon owner who shares space with the new boutique told the Fairlawn-Saddlebrook Patch. “Three of Kim D’s clothes racks were destroyed and three of our custom sinks were broken. There was blood on the walls.”

Another report says Jacqueline took off her shoes and bashed Karagiorgis on the head.

A source close to the Lauritas denies the accusation and defends the reality stars.

“She never used her shoe against [Karagiorgis],” says the source. “And everyone felt as though he came in there confrontational, and instigated the fight.”

These latest charges come just days after Jacqueline told PEOPLE how well the family has been faring lately.

“We’ve all been through so much but we are in a really good place right now,” she said at the Bravo upfront event Thursday. “We’ve put a lot of the bad blood behind us and worked through our issues.”

As for their son Nicholas, Chris Laurita says,

“He keeps progressing, and then regressing, but he’s doing so well. We’re really happy with his progress. He’s a great little boy.”

An initial hearing for Gorga and the Lauritas has been set for April 18.

The following is the report from the Ridgewood-Glenrock Patch:

Two cast members of  The Real Housewives of New Jersey are accused of assaulting a guest at the grand opening of a Ridgewood business on Saturday.

A Paramus man has filed charges against two cast members of the Real Housewives of New Jersey after a sink-throwing brawl left blood on the walls at the Saturday grand opening of a Ridgewood clothing boutique, Patch has learned. More than 100 guests were at the opening of Real Housewives regular Kim DePaola’s Posche 2, including the show’s cast and crew, when the drama broke out.

Moxie Salon co-owner Jennifer Dunn confirmed a fight broke out after a guest, identified as Johnny Karagiorgis, 38, of Paramus, allegedly made fun of the autistic son of cast member Jacqueline Laurita and her husband Christopher.

Posche 2 is in the same space that houses Moxie Salon’s yet-to-open second location.

Joe Gorga and Albie Manzo came to Christopher Laurita’s aid during the confrontation and it led to a brawl between the Housewives men and Karagioris, Dunn said.

“It was a huge brawl. Three of Kim D’s clothes racks were destroyed and three of our custom sinks were broken,” Dunn told Patch Wednesday. “There was blood on the walls.”

One of the fight participants threw one of the sinks during the fight, Dunn said. Bravo’s cameras were rolling and captured the tumult.

Ridgewood police confirmed a brawl took place Saturday night and said Karagiorgis filed a citizen’s complaint alleging that three men assaulted him.

Sources tell Patch two of the three men named in Karagiorgis’s complaint are cast members Gorga and Christopher Laurita. Manzo was not named in the complaint, sources said.

Police said the investigation into the brawl remains active. Ridgewood Municipal Court Judge David Pfund will conduct a probable cause hearing to determine if charges are filed against the alleged aggressors.

“There was a report of a dispute that led to an assault,” Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward said. “We cannot confirm or deny it involved any cast members.”

Ward declined further comment, but said he was unaware if any cross-complaints had been filed against Karagiorgis or other parties.

Dunn estimated the damage to the sinks and the wall to be more than $15,000. Kim D’s clothing damage was also said to have represented tens of thousands in losses.

The Housewives were remorseful the brawl broke out on Saturday night, Dunn said.

“They felt really awful about it. I want people to know they’re so much nicer than they’re made out to be.”

Of course, RadarOnline is butchering the story with misinformation from bogus sources, who are blaming it all on Teresa:

Joe Gorga, Chris Laurita and Albie Manzo Get into a Fight with Johnny ‘The Greek’ Karagiorgis at the Grand Opening of Posche 2; Joe Giudce Rejects Plea Deal on Identity Theft Charges (Updated 4/2/2013)

Anyone who attacks someone while being held by 4 security makes you a coward. PERIOD!!! NOT OVER!!! – John Karagiorgis (@JohnnytheGreek), April 1, 2013, Twitter

Am I the only one who finds it funny when ppl turn JOHN automatically into Jonathan!? – Retweeted by John Karagiorgis (@JohnnytheGreek), April 1, 2013, Twitter

Sources are reporting that Joe Gorga, Chris Laurita and Albie Manzo got into a physical altercation with Penny Drossos’ husband John Karagiorgis on March 30, 2013, at the grand opening of Kim D’s second boutique, Posche 2, which is downstairs from the Moxie Salon at 74 E. Ridgewood Avenue in Ridgewood, NJ. Teresa Guidice, Melissa Gorga, Jacqueline Laurita and Caroline Manzo also attended the event.

Tom Murro, a friend of the Manzo/Laurita camp and a source to various blogs/tabloids, told “a spy’s” version of the story to RadarOnline, as follows:

All hell broke loose at Kim D’s new Posche store opening on Saturday night and, according to eyewitnesses, the drama started when Melissa’s husband confronted the people who have been spreading rumors about her, and the person they blamed was none other than Teresa! “Joe Gorga approached a guy named Jonathan Karagiorgisa and confronted him about all the things he’s said about Melissa on Twitter, and Jonathan admitted he was writing about her,” a spy exclusively told Celebrity Magnet Tom Murro. “As the two guys were arguing, Joe asked Jonathan where he got all his misinformation and Jonathan replied, ‘Why don’t you ask your sister?’” Jacqueline Laurita’s husband Chris then joined Joe and confronted Jonathan over his allegations that the Laurita’s had made up their son’s autism diagnosis. “Jonathan was not backing down, and that’s when they all started to exchange blows!” the spy said. “Jacqueline kicked off her shoes and bitch smacked Jonathan on the back of his head! This is where the Manzo boys, along with Lauren Manzo, jumped in out of nowhere to break up the fight! Bowls were broken, glass everywhere,” the eyewitness said, and revealed the fact that Teresa and Joe Giudice were there watching it all unfold! “Even though Teresa was blamed for the fight, and Jonathan said she was the one telling him all of the gossip about Melissa, she and Joe didn’t do a thing, they just watched it all unfold and didn’t even step in to try and stop the fight!” Security finally intervened and “escorted a very bloody Jonathan out of the party. There was blood everywhere, on the floor and even on the walls.” Of course, everything was caught by Bravo’s cameras, so all of the bloody violence is sure to be a dramatic ending for the season!

Jersey_Girl, a friend of Penny and Johnny who was present at the grand opening, made the following comments at FW about the brawl:

OMG a very bloody Johnny? How’s a nose bleed from a head hit from security a very bloody Johnny? Security held Johnny up against the wall while Chris and Jac took cheap shots. Joe tried getting in cheap shots but Johnny managed to get loose and sent Joe through the sinks.

The night was a total setup by Bravo for the ambush to go down. Johnny got jumped, was held by security, and he still managed to send the midget flying. Yes, Johnny is pressing charges on all of them because they were gutless to attack while he was being held, lucky for them.

What happened Joe, didn’t you and Rich Wakile have a meeting with Johnny at his business, agreeing to squash all the negatively in front of cameras? Oh, but you just wanted the setup in front of cameras. Well guess what, what you idiots did is a criminal offense; and if you think this is over, you’re highly mistaken. I was there and it took all the security guys to hold Johnny, and Joe still went flying. I know this is far from over.

Johnny told the producers and Bravo to fuck off. They called him after the chaos and he told them all to fuck off.

For those of you that claim Johnny wanted airtime, you’re wrong. He stayed away from all filming all season. The producers told him it would be a good idea he goes because all the husbands will be there and Penny might feel uncomfortable. Johnny went and was told to wait outside until called in. Once called in, he wasn’t there ten minutes, and then the brawl. Complete Bravo setup.

Producers were staggering us all in two at a time. By the time Johnny walked in, the stage for the brawl was set.

At the end, Johnny was screaming “Let me go, let me go, let’s see if these pussys can really fight me”. It was a complete Bravo shit show set up.

I am just sickened that grown men would hold down someone to get sucker punched – chicken sh*ts. If you fight, fight fair; I don’t care what the friggin’ beef is – real men don’t fight like that. Disgusting.

Jac’s denying it [that she used her high heel shoe to hit Johnny on the head] but witnesses state otherwise and Johnny got a heel mark on his forehead, so you decide.

Johnny’s sole purpose was to bury the hatchet. Rich Wakile and Joe Gorga went to Johnny’s place and agreed on that. But Joe kept pushing the issue at the event, and when Johnny turned to talk to Teresa, that’s when Joe rushed him. Joe never swung, but Johnny took him down to the ground and then security jumped in. The rest I said above.

According to sources for other bloggers:

Joe Gorga and Chris Laurita went after Johnny. Joe was apparently angry because he was under the impression that Johnny was setting Melissa up by bringing her ex-boyfriend, Bryan Bulldog Bowen, into the mix. Even though the whole fight only lasted for a few minutes, by the time it was all over the salon was completely trashed (we’re talking sinks ripped from the wall and broken glass everywhere) and Johnny was bleeding and badly bruised. [WetPaint]

Shortly after everyone arrived, drama erupted when Joe Gorga and Chris Laurita went after Johnny. Apparently Johnny had invited Melissa’s ex-boyfriend Bryan ‘Bulldog’ Bowen to show up and confront her about allegedly cheating with him after she was married. Chris got angry because Johnny was making comments about his autistic son Nicholas. So together with Albie Manzo, Joe Gorga and Chris got into a brawl with Johnny! Caroline was reportedly worried about Jacqueline’s safety because she also got herself mixed up in the fight! Jacqueline kicked off her shoes and hopped up on a chair then bitchslapped Johnny on the back of his head with her left hand. None of the other wives participated. They trashed the salon in the process and Johnny was bruised and bleeding. No word if police were involved. [RealityTea]

A source told Fame-Whorgas that Karagiorgis (JTG) never said anything about Nicholas at the event or at any other time [perhaps the Gorgas or Bravo producers told the Lauritas that Karagiorgis said something and they took it as the truth]:

Joe Gorga was the first to confront JTG, asking him, “Who’s telling you all this info”, and Joe had security get behind JTG and apparently this is when Joe took a shot or lunged at JTG, who tossed Joe off of him and onto the sinks (which is how they got broken). Joe threw the first punch and then Chris charged at JTG, shouting something like, “You made fun of my son”, which is how the rumor started; JTG replied, “I didn’t say sh-t about your son,” and when JTG turned away, Chris took a cheap shot at him and Jacqueline hit him in the forehead with her stiletto type shoe. In self-defense, JTG tossed Chris into the wall. Security tackled JTG, and JTG shouted, “You’re all a bunch of f-cking p-ssies, swinging at people being held.” JTG didn’t get carried out, he walked out, and Bravo security (off duty cops) apologized, saying, “It wasn’t supposed to go down this way.” JTG went immediately to the police station to file a report, where they took pictures of his injuries.

Penny Drossos is a former special education teacher and a volunteer for people with special needs, so if the subject about the Laurita’s son Nicholas was broached, it could have been regarding the exploitation of autism as a platform to promote blk [which is not the same black energy drink that Penny and John are endorsing in the photo above].

Joe rejected a plea deal on the identity theft charges which would have put him in state prison for four years. Instead, he opted to go to trial beginning May 28, 2013. If convicted of identity theft charges, he could face up to ten years in prison. Miles Feinstein, Joe’s attorney, told In Touch:

The state offered him NJ State Prison, and we rejected that offer. Instead, we set a trial scheduling hearing for May 28, since we’re rejecting the new plea offer. Joe is being treated differently. He shouldn’t have to do any jail time for this. The best outcome for this will be we win the case and he doesn’t do any time at all.

On April 1, 2013, a message was posted on Joe Giudice’s Facebook page saying he will no longer be featured on RHONJ:

This must be an April Fool’s joke. The “Facebook announcement” was posted on the same day as Joe’s court date for the 2010 charges of obtaining a fraudulent driver’s license using his brother’s ID (in March 2010, he was fined $864 and his driver’s license was revoked for 12 months after being found guilty of driving while intoxicated on January 13, 2010 in New Jersey).

DISCLAIMER on Joe Giudice’s Facebook page: I’m sorry that people took the last post seriously, we were hacked. There is no evidence that King Joe Giudice will not be a part of season 5 of the Real Housewives of New Jersey.

Danielle Staub Tapes Scene with Teresa Giudice for RHONJ; Kim D’s Birthday Bash May Be the Season 5 Finale; Lauritas Scheduled to Go to Court for Federal Bankruptcy Case

A source close to Danielle Staub told @RHO_Gossip that she taped a scene for season 5 on March 10, 2013:

Real Housewives Of.. ‏@RHO_Gossip
DANIELLE STAUB IS FILMING TODAY #RHONJ
2:19 PM – Mar 10, 2013

iRealHousewives ‏@iRealHousewives
@RHO_Gossip really? How do u know? That’s exciting

Real Housewives Of.. ‏@RHO_Gossip
@iRealHousewives that’s what I have been hearing from a source close to her but not with Melissa

Fame-Whorgas heard the same thing from another source, and although the source had no details, they believe that only Danielle and Teresa were in the scene taped on March 10th. Perhaps Danielle and Teresa apologized to each other, agreeing to put the past behind them.

At the end of part 2 of the season 2 reunion special (which premiered on September 6, 2010), Danielle hugged it out with Teresa and Jacqueline and called a truce (Caroline refused to accept her apology). In January 2012, Danielle tweeted that only Teresa kept her promise for the truce; however, Danielle also tweeted that she would forgive Teresa only if she apologized in person.

During the scene they taped together, it is highly likely that Danielle and Teresa discussed how Melissa contacted Danielle to worm her way onto the show, and they could have discussed the cheating scandal surrounding Melissa.

Penny Drossos tweeted that she would be seeing Kim D on March 10th, the same day Danielle and Teresa taped their scene together — so perhaps Kim D and Penny also taped a scene with Danielle and Teresa.

Courtre ‏@Courtre
@PDKhair @NLEventsDesign @KristenPosche I was trying to go [to Kim D's birthday bash], but I haven’t been able to get a hold of tickets!!

Penny Drossos ‏@PDKhair
@Courtre @nleventsdesign @kristenposche call Kim at POSCHE
1:16 p.m. – Mar 9, 2013

Courtre ‏@Courtre
@PDKhair I have! But, I’ll keep calling!

Penny Drossos ‏@PDKhair
@Courtre I’m seeing her tomo ill let her know

Penny also tweeted on March 9th that she will be attending Kim D’s birthday bash scheduled for April 11, 2013.

Courtre ‏@Courtre
@PDKhair Are you going to Kim D’s birthday bash?

Penny Drossos ‏@PDKhair
@Courtre yes ill be there.. Are u coming!!

Teresa is listed as “special guest BFF” on the poster advertising Kim D’s birthday bash, so she will be there for sure (to obtain tickets for the event, contact the Posche Boutique at 973-406-7675).

In recent weeks it has been revealed by sources that Teresa is calling Penny a “stalker”, and Teresa appears to be distancing herself from her.

“I’ll be honest. Teresa did tell Melissa and Joe that Penny is a stalker and that she’s not friends with them. Teresa reacted this way because Melissa asked why Teresa would be friends with Penny when all Penny does is talk about Melissa. Teresa told Melissa that she is not friends with Penny, and Penny is a stalker dying to get on the show. She told all her friends this and it just blew up in her face.” – TeresasFriend, March 4, 2013, AllAboutTRH

According to a source, during a scene taped on February 28, 2013, Joe and Melissa Gorga made certain to tell Penny that Teresa is calling her a stalker in an attempt to get Penny to say that Teresa was involved in arranging the phone call she took from Mike at the holiday Posche Fashion Show on December 3, 2012.

Penny surely will want to address the stalking accusations with Teresa, hopefully on camera. It is possible that producers are manipulating the situation so that the two cannot discuss the accusations until the season finale, when all the cast is present, which could be Kim D’s birthday bash scheduled for April 11th. According to a source, the entire cast should be at this event, and ‘fireworks’ could go off.

If Teresa is involved with exposing Melissa’s past, I believe most of her fans will be sympathetic considering how she was put through the ringer in seasons 3 and 4 — and the entire cast held her up for public scorn before, during and after reunion 3, plus they continued the attack on her and her marriage during reunion 4. She was wronged by everyone and it is understandable that she would want to redeem herself and take them down in the process. She is only human, but if she is involved, in any way, with revealing Melissa’s secrets, it would be best to own it and let the chips fall where they may.

In an unrelated topic, on March 14, 2013, arguments are scheduled to be heard for all motions in the federal bankruptcy case against the Lauritas. Until these motions are settled, all depositions have been suspended. However, the discovery part, both fact and expert, is ongoing. More than likely, Jacqueline will not have to appear, and it is doubtful Bravo will film it. This is preliminary until all evidence is gathered and examined. Once completed, then it will be decided whether charges are to be filed. But there certainly appears to be a mountain of evidence, so the Lauritas definitely have a lot on their plate right now between the hearings, the tax lien, the possible foreclosure, and Jacqueline’s plastic surgery bills. [Jeannie5233, March 13, 2013, Fame-Whorgas]

Click here to read more about the Laurita bankruptcy.

Penny Drossos Films Scene with Joe and Melissa Gorga; Joe Gorga Defends Melissa Against Cheating Allegations; Teresa Giudice Calls Truce with Melissa Gorga; Joe and Teresa Giudice Double Date with Chris and Jacqueline Laurita (Updated 3/4/2013)

Angela ‏@angelacalce80
@JohnnyTheGrk say it aint so.. You and ur wife are now team melissa and joe

John Karagiorgis ‏@JohnnyTheGrk
@angelacalce80 It Ain’t So!!!
2:33 p.m. – Mar 3, 2013

On February 28, 2013, Joe and Melissa were photographed having a conversation with Penny Drossos, which suggested a reconciliation was in progress. In the photo above from Bergen.com, Penny is seen talking to the Gorgas at Chakra in Paramus. According to Bergen.com, “Melissa Gorga and her husband Joe Gorga stopped by with a few friends while filming a scene for the upcoming season of RHONJ.” [Click here for more photos from the event.]

A source told Fame-Whorgas that during the Bravo-arranged meeting Penny had with Joe and Melissa Gorga at Chakra in Paramus on February 28, 2013, Joe and Melissa were making accusations against Teresa in an attempt to get Penny to say that Teresa was complicit in arranging the phone call at the Holiday Posche Fashion on December 3, 2012, the call where a friend of Penny’s tells Teresa that he witnessed Melissa cheating on Joe Gorga. According to my source, Joe and Melissa told Penny that Teresa is calling her a stalker, and Penny, trying to protect Teresa while also defending herself against the accusations, took out her cell phone to show Joe that she has Teresa’s home phone number, cell number and text messages between them. In addition, my source said Penny told Joe and Melissa that she’ll have to take up the accusations with Teressa. According to my source, based on hearsay on Twitter, “it’s deemed accurate that Teresa called her a stalker, and Penny won’t stand for false accusations.”

Also, in a conversation that Penny had with Teresa about a week earlier, on February 18 at the Milania Hair Care launch party, Teresa asked Penny in front of Joe and Melissa, “Are we friends?” to which Penny replied, “We are cordial.” Teresa asked her what she meant, and Penny explained that they don’t go to each others homes, etc. and added, “We are acquaintances.” Teresa responded by saying, “Like when you come to my events,” and Penny interrupted her and said, “No, Teresa, when I come to the events you invite me to.” It seems that Teresa was trying to prove to Joe and Melissa that she was not speaking to Penny other than at the events Penny attended for season 5 but, according to my source, it can be proven that Teresa is misleading Joe and Melissa as well as others.

On February 27, 2013, Life & Style reported, exclusively, that Joe Gorga is defending his wife against the cheating allegations. About Byran ‘Bulldog’ Bowen,’ the magazine reports that Joe said: “Ha, ha, ha” and explained, “If there were skeletons in my closet I would never have gone on the show.” He also told Life & Style: “The poor girl keeps getting all this abuse for no reason. They find a good mom with a good image, and it’s like, ‘How can we take her down’?” [It is odd that he said "my" closet instead of "my wife's closet" since the cheating rumors are about her, not him.]

On February 28, 2013, Starcasm reported that Teresa Guidice and Melissa Gorga called a truce and that Joe Gorga is ready to move on too. Teresa was quoted as saying: “Everything is good” and “you have to let things go.” According to their source: “The two attended a cast retreat in Lake George, NY were they hashed things out and agreed to put the past in the past for the sake of their family — especially their children.” [The cast trip to Lake George was February 10-12, 2013 — click here for the season 5 shooting schedule.]

However, on February 15, 2013, just days after the cast returned from their trip to Lake George where they supposedly worked out their differences, Melissa retweeted the RumorFix article that blamed Teresa for Melissa’s cheating scandal:

Furthermore, the February 28th Starcasm story contradicts a story by RumorFix on February 20, 2013. Acccording to RumorFix, they spoke exclusively to Joe Gorga, who said: “It’s a dirty situation right now.” He also said the women agreed to do another season of RHONJ together, but “they are not in a good place.” Joe stated that fans will see pictures of Melissa and Teresa posing together, but they are only doing photo ops for the show. “We’re family,” an emotional Joe told RumorFix. “She’s my blood, my sister … My heart is always open for her. When she’s really ready, without any of the bulls**t, I’m waiting for her.”

On a related topic, according to RadarOnline, Teresa and Joe Giudice recently double dated with Jacqueline and Chris Laurita, but it may all have been for show since it was taped by Bravo. Their source said: “Teresa knows what makes for good TV, and that is fighting. She’s been trying to get more people to be friendlier to her this season, but she knows she has to bring the drama for the ratings, and she’s definitely planning on doing that this season.”

Bryan ‘Bulldog’ Bowen is Not the ‘Mike’ Who Talked on the Phone to Teresa Giudice at the Holiday PFS on December 3, 2012

A source told Fame-Whorgas: “All the stuff about Bryan and Love being friends and her hating Mel are very true. Bryan did not sell any stories, but they have been talking to his friends, and more of his friends will be coming forward because they are tired of what the Marcos are trying to do to Bryan. I think no one came forward because Melissa was pretty much a joke around TR (Toms River); but now that she is trying to hurt people (outside of Teresa’s family), people are getting angry.”

Bryan ‘Bulldog’ Bowen’s identity was revealed here at Fame-Whorgas on January 16, 2013. According to a source, he is Melissa Gorga’s ex boyfriend who she lived with for two to three years before moving in with Joe Gorga in October 2003 (the source says she lived with some girlfriends for a few months before moving in with Joe).

According to the source, he is not the person Penny Drossos called and who Teresa Giudice talked to on the phone at the Holiday PFS on December 3, 2013, as reported by RadarOnline — their source is wrong and intentionally misrepresenting facts. My source says Bryan has not been filmed and Penny has never spoken to him on the phone on camera.

My source confirms that the person Penny called and Teresa talked to about Melissa’s alleged infidelity is named Mike (his real name), a good friend to both Byran and Penny’s husband, John Karagiorgis. When Penny asked Bryan if she could call him from the Holiday Posche Fashion Show on December 3, 2013, he said, “No,” and told her to ask Mike instead because “he’s crazy enough to do it.” According to my source, Mike was one of the friends at the Sushi Lounge the night Melissa hooked up with Bryan in a car in the parking lot, and their friends (Melissa’s and Bryan’s), who were there that night, witnessed it. It was because there were witnesses that the Sushi Lounge story made its way around the internet… witnesses came forward, not Bryan.

Bryan denies that he was the person Teresa talked to on the phone on December 3, 2012:

“@jenbradleylopez @fauxrealityent I have a best friend name mike if that’s what they’re confusing it with lol and he could careless lol” – Bryan Bowen ‏(@bulldog_nj), February 11, 2013, Twitter

Clarifying whether he has agreed to appear on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, on February 5, 2013, Bryan told CYInterview:

“No it’s not true, not at all. As a matter of fact, I have not even spoken to any of the producers. So it’s news to me.” On whether Mr. Bowen would like to be on The Real Housewives of New Jersey: “I have no plans on being on the show. I guess, however, you know if the circumstances are right for me, I gotta believe I’d consider it.”

Based on a recent Twitter exchange between John Karagiorgis and Bryan Bowen, it is easy to deduce that the person Penny called and Teresa talked to was someone named Mike Chick. A source told Fame-Whorgas that Mike’s last name is not Chick — Chick is a nickname. The source also said Mike requested that his last name not be disclosed. Here is the Twitter conversation where John Karagiorgis mentions Mike Chick to Bryan:

John Karagiorgis ‏@JohnnyTheGrk
@bulldog_nj Careful, now she’s reciting her song lyrics. Btw, I saw Crazy Mike Chick. He finds this hilarious & says what up. Lol
24 Jan 13

Bryan ‏@bulldog_nj
@JohnnyTheGrk lol what’s that nut up to? He knows what time it was back then and is now lol
24 Jan 13

John Karagiorgis ‏@JohnnyTheGrk
@bulldog_nj Still a fukin nut. He was hacky sacking gum. Gum kept hitting floor & his crazy ass still chewed it. Lol
24 Jan 13

John Karagiorgis ‏@JohnnyTheGrk
@bulldog_nj He also said “Tell him I’m in”. LMFAO
24 Jan 13

Here are two blog comments about ‘Mike C’ that were posted long before the phone call to Mike was taped by Bravo on December 3, 2012:

“Are you f*cking kidding me Melissa? Does this advice [include] meeting your ex at Sushi Lounge 2 years ago? Or your other ex’s in Bayonne or Lyndhurst? Dying for explanation! But we’ll get that when your skank ass is exposed by Penny & Johnny and don’t you worry, we’re all lining up. Tommy, Vinny, Mike C, Freddy C, and that’s just naming a few.” – ‘The Source’, April 9, 2012, AllAboutTRH

“Those photos are going to be coming out soon, you know, the ones of her with her ex, while she was married to Joe Gorga. The photos could be with one of the boys from Bayonne, another ex in Lyndhurst, Tommy, Butch/Bulldog, Brian, Ronald aka Gus, MikeC, Freddy, Vinny, or how about ‘group sex pics’ during spring break, OR how about someone that hasn’t been named yet, haha. There is plenty more that hasn’t been put out there yet. Mel has nothing to worry about right………..LOL.” – JanShe, May 30, 2012, AllAboutTRH

Teresa Giudice Takes Phone Call from Melissa Gorga’s Past — Caller Claims Melissa Cheated on Joe

Based on topics brought up at the season 4 reunion, it looks like Bravo is going to reveal Melissa’s secrets (at least some of them) in season 5. However, based on information from insiders, it looks like Bravo Andy is going to use Teresa to reveal those secrets … just the way they used Teresa in season 4 to reveal Melissa’s secret that she worked as a ‘dancer’ at Lookers.

According to a former post production supervisor for RHONJ, the Posche Fashion Show (PFS) season 4 finale was packed with people from Melissa’s past all saying she ‘danced’, but all of that was left on the cutting room floor; and Melissa still to this day denies she ever ‘danced’ and continues to blame Teresa for setting her up (when Teresa had nothing to do with it and was simply Bravo’s pawn) — and the majority of viewers seem to believe this because of the way Bravo edited the final episode (plus Melissa’s coverage in print media such as Us Weekly is positive — no stories about shoplifting, stripping, cheating, etc. or stories about her alleged bisexuality).

In season 5, Bravo had Kim D and Penny Drosso bring up Melissa’s alleged cheating to Teresa, but this time Teresa knowingly and willingly went along with it — Bravo is plotting it so that Teresa will be blamed and Melissa again will deny the accusations.

According to an inside source, a scene was filmed at the season 5 Holiday PFS on December 3, 2012, where Kim D and Penny approached Teresa with information about Melissa’s infidelity, and Teresa agreed to a phone call with someone who confirmed that Melissa cheated on Joe multiple times after they were married. However, Bravo will edit it so that Melissa again can successfully deny the allegations and again can successfully blame Teresa for trying to ruin Melissa’s marriage and attack her character. Jacqueline, Caroline, Melissa and Kathy weren’t at the PFS by design, so how Bravo introduces this scene to them is a mystery for now, but Teresa certainly will be attacked by the cast for being part of it.

Bravo can edit the footage to make it seem like Melissa is innocent of cheating on Joe and that Teresa is simply out for revenge and trying to destroy her brother’s happy marriage because her marriage is so unhappy (with other footage implying that the real cheater is Joe Giudice).

Why would Bravo do this? Is it because Andy hates the Giudices? It seems like he does because they are the ones who have been portrayed in the most negative light consistently for two seasons, while Melissa has been able to deny everything and pretend she and Joe are the perfect couple. With Melissa’s advice book on marriage backing up that storyline, it is unlikely that Bravo will let Melissa’s fake image be completely tarnished in season 5… maybe they decided to wait until season 6 when Teresa is no longer on the show (season 5 may very well be her last season — there are rumors that she is getting a spinoff) to expose Melissa, because without Teresa, Melissa doesn’t have much of a storyline — and then maybe in season 6 they will do to Melissa what they spent three seasons doing to Teresa.

That’s how things are looking now, but Bravo could change everything using editing and production tricks like scences out of sequence, voice overs, crafted dialogue, and coached confessionals/monologues. Let’s hope Teresa reads the blogs and protects herself as much as possible from Bravo’s manipulation.

Had Teresa left the show after season 4, Bravo would have had no choice but to go after Melissa (and, of course, wouldn’t have been able to use Teresa to do it), because other than playing the victimized sister-in-law, Melissa’s only other storyline is that of the obedient wife in a happy marriage (who wants to be a pop star on the side) — and this storyline is weak at best.

Did Penny Drossos Karagiorgis Sign a Contract for RHONJ Season 5? — She Knows Melissa Gorga’s Secrets (Updated 2/18/2013)

It appears that Penny Drossos Karagiorgis signed a contract (unpaid “person of interest”?) with Bravo on December 26, 2012. A source tells Fame-Whorgas that Penny has the real scoop on Melissa’s checkered past — she is a former friend of Melissa and knows all the key people and has the contacts, and she cares about Teresa and truly will be on her side… and she will be Melissa’s nemesis for sure.

According to TVFishbowl’s source, in one scene “a couple of cast members are on the phone with someone from the Gorga’s past. The man is on speaker phone and is singing like a ‘bird’.”

Who is Penny Drossos? 

Conversations From Twitter (Excerpt)
By Ilana Angel, Keeping It Real (The Jewish Journal)
June 7, 2012

Penny can be found on Twitter @PDKHair. She owns La Chateau Allure Salon in New Jersey and a lot of people think she should be a new cast member of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. She is a friend of Teresa’s, which should be reason enough to add her because it would be nice to see Teresa have a friend in the sea of bitter hags we are now watching.

Penny worked for many years as special education teacher, specializing in kids with autism. She loved her work but found that when she had her own children, she lost some of patience. At that point she decided to leave teaching and go into hairdressing. Just because she changed careers, she was unable to walk away from the students she loved so much.

Every Tuesday is Special Needs Day at Penny’s salon. She welcomes children and adults to the salon to get their hair done. They can enjoy the pampering and hang out in a safe and non-judgmental environment. Some of the “kids” who come are the same students Penny taught years ago. They are now young adults and Penny loves them now as she did then, completely.

Penny has been married to Johnny for 12 years.

A Warning to Teresa Giudice

Andy Cohen wants to bring you — not Melisssa Gorga — down, so tread carefully. Bravo will slice and dice the footage to present you as the vindictive, resentful and spiteful sister-in-law out to destroy your brother’s marriage.

After they splice and dice the footage, they’ll script and let Melissa rehearse the talking head interviews so she can come out the victim — with what Bravo hopes will be a best-selling advice book on how to have a ‘real and sexy’ marriage (Bravo gets a cut of the profits, so the timing of the announcement of this book deal and its publication slated for Fall 2013 is not a coincidence) — and you will come out the villain with the cheating husband and a ruined ‘brand’ that no other network will want.

Penny can bring up the dirt about Melissa on camera without you (if this is really what Bravo wants), so don’t be complicit in revealing her checkered past — let Bravo figure out how to do it without you and in a way to ensure Penny’s scenes won’t be left on the cutting room floor… again.

Remember, only a very small percentage of viewers follow the blogs, and Bravo knows this — this is why they can get away with distorting the truth and creating fake storylines.

The photos below are of Penny Drossos and John Karagiorgis (and Pete Giudice) from season 4. All shots of Penny in season 4 were left on the cutting room floor (the photos below, except for the one with Penny’s back in the shot, are from websites other than Bravo and were not in season 4 footage that aired on Bravo) even though she was the one who brought Bravo the season 4 finale at the Posche Fashion Show (according to a source, Penny and John are friends with Melissa’s former friends).

Melissa’s nemesis Penny Drossos (@PDKhair) held back on the dirt she has on Melissa’s checkered past so that she could get a contract with Bravo and air it all out on the show — this was the only way it could be blasted to all six million viewers (depending on the source — other sources report that figure to be 3.5 million).

Melissa and her sisters have been attacking Penny and her business on Twitter over the past two seasons. Recently, Melissa took a dig at Penny (without naming her) in her final blog for season 4 and her sister Kim Pirrella did as well:

“As you can see, there are many desperate people on Twitter begging to be on the show. None of them get cast. It’s not Bravo’s style. The more you want it, the less likely you are to get it.” – Melissa Gorga, October 16, 2012, Bravo Blog

“Its quite comical that @johnnythegrk banked on being cast on rhwnj even charging a new set of teeth for @pdkhair and BRAVO PASSED!! LMFAO” – Retweeted by Kim Pirrella, October 14, 2012 (during the premiere of part 3 of the reunion special)

“Penny has a long history with Melissa, and knew Melissa long before her housewife days. In fact, when Melissa was casted for RHONJ, she actually called Penny [who she was not on good terms with her at the time] to boast.” – anonymous e-mail published at StoopidHousewives.com

A Twitter follower alerted Penny to Melissa’s comment in her Bravo blog:

Ko @Keena620
@melissagorga threw a dig at @PDKhair and her hubby in her new blog. Penny plz call this bitch out
7:00 AM – 17 Oct 12

Ko Ko ‏@Keena620
@PDKhair she said there are many desperate ppl on Twitter begging to be on the show. Hmmm made me think of u. I wish bravo would cast u.
7:40 AM – 17 Oct 12

Here are Penny’s responses:

Penny Drossos ‏@PDKhair
@Keena620 @melissagorga she did wt! Really Mel u want to go there! How did u meet Joe ? Bitch
7:32 AM – 17 Oct 12

Penny Drossos @PDKhair
@Keena620 @melissagorga when you came back didn’t you say he wasn’t your type! Go bitch u want to play lets play how’s Fred Caruso bitch
7:33AM – 17 Oct 12

Penny Drossos @PDKhair
@Keena620 @melissagorga tell everyone how you lied to him about ur first day you “taught” n you cried to him that it was too stressful
7:35AM – 17 Oct 12

Penny Drossos @PDKhair
@Keena620 @melissagorga joe felt bad for you n told u to quit n you worked for him does Joe know exactly who he married? I doubt he does
7:38AM – 17 Oct 12

Penny Drossos ‏@PDKhair
@Keena620 I’m not desperate she’s scared big difference.cause if I come on I don’t alone..
7:46 AM – 17 Oct 12

Penny Drossos ‏@PDKhair
@Keena620 YES the producers did come to my house in aug to interview me..
7:48 AM – 17 Oct 12

Penny Drossos ‏@PDKhair
@Keena620 I try I’m far form perfect n I know it .. I’m human but I don’t but up a front I am who I am .Thank u honey for the heads up 2day
7:52 AM – 17 Oct 12

In December 2003, the Fred Caruso that Penny referred to in the tweet above was named as a defendant in a law suit for third degree aggravated assault, causing “significant bodily injury under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life in a reckless manner” at a club called Club XS in Seaside Heights, NJ. And in October 2006, Fred Caruso  from Clifton New Jersey was sentenced for conspiracy to distribute Ecstasy, retaliate against a witness and commit kidnapping:

“According to testimony presented at trial, on February 24, 2002, Van Cleve Ashley, age 38, of New Jersey, was sentenced to 34 years on February 8, 2007 for conspiring with Fred Caruso and Ramaine York to shoot to death Thomas D. Dixon, Jr. to prevent Dixon from appearing as a witness in the federal case of U.S. v. Fred Caruso and to retaliate against Dixon for providing law enforcement officers with information about Caruso’s criminal activities. Caruso provided Ashley with a semi-automatic pistol, a photograph of Dixon and directions to Dixon’s house. Caruso paid Ashley $10,000. Ashley then solicited the help of York, providing him with the gun and directions to Dixon’s house. York traveled from New Jersey to Maryland and shot Dixon multiple times. Dixon was flown to shock trauma where he remained hospitalized for months, but survived the attack.  Both Caruso and York had previously pled guilty to witness retaliation and testified at trial against Ashley. Judge Garbis sentenced Caruso to 163 months. York was sentenced in federal court in New Jersey to 10 years. United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their investigative work.”

A source told Fame-Whorgas that:

“Fred Caruso was the main guy in the northeast to get whatever you needed: coke, X, K, etc. … and yes, Melissa knew him. She was the tag along.”

Penny Drossos has been tweeting Love Majewski. On October 3, 2012, Penny tweeted this to Love:

“We’re coming to Staten Island Friday night want to meet up ?”

In October 2012, a source told Fame-Whorgas that during the 4-5 years that Melissa Gorga dated Love’s friend Brian, she “lived” out of Love’s closet, “borrowing” her clothes because she liked nice things but couldn’t afford them (Love was Brian’s friend, and Melissa met Love through him). The source also said that Melissa was a “leach to everyone, and she even took advantage of Love’s driver.”

2/18/2013 UPDATE:

Bryan ‏(@bulldog_nj) said on January 20, 2013:

“@lisaslying @lovemajewski yes she’s great! We go back a long time. No I don’t think I have them pics lol but I know what u mean.”

When Penny mentioned Love’s name to Melissa Gorga at the Milania Hair Care launch party on February 18, 2013, Melissa acted as if she didn’t know who Penny was talking about. This was after rumors of Melissa cheating on Joe with Bryan ‘Bulldog’ Bowen surfaced in January 2013.

Love Majewski is a new cast member on season 3 of VH1′s “Mob Wives”, starting Sunday, January 6, 2013. She was featured on season 1, episode 9 of the ID network show “I Married a Mobster” — here is a description of that episode (also see video of the episode below):

“Through Staten Island mob daughters like herself, Love Majewski meets Chris Paciello, a member of the Bonanno crime family, as well as Ray Merolle’s “The Untouchables,” the car-theft operation that inspired “Gone in 60 Seconds.” When Chris grows abusive, Love asks for Ray’s protection, becoming at once his personal property and accomplice to theft. Chris moves to Miami, but is eventually arrested for murdering a porn king’s wife, while Ray is convicted of more than 100 counts back in Staten Island. This leaves Love to live her life in limbo, trying to date normal guys but never fully escaping the FBI’s radar.”

Related:

• Pete Giudice Takes On Melissa Gorga and Her Posse; John Karagiorgis Backs Up Pete Giudice on Twitter
• RHONJ Season 5 Will Be All About Melissa Gorga’s Secrets; John Karagiorgis Says Melissa Gorga Went ‘From Ho to Housewife’
• Melissa Gorga and Jacqueline Laurita are Horrible, Vindictive, Manipulative Witches; More About Melissa from John Karagiorgis
• Ilana Angel of the Jewish Journal Interviews Penny Drossos Karagiorgis
• The Gorgas Say They Are ‘Party People’ and Melissa Is a ‘Fondler’
• Melissa Gorga Allegedly Cheated on Joe Before and After They Were Married