On Friday, a New Jersey council member was arrested for extortion and other charges. John Alite, 63, serves as a councilman in Englishtown, NJ. Authorities accuse him of multiple counts of extortion and corporate misconduct, as stated by the New Jersey Attorney General.
Alite allegedly offered loans above the legal interest rates and threatened violence against debtors unless they repaid with money and property. Prosecutors claim that Straightened-Out Entertainment, Inc., Alite’s business, was used to promote these unlawful activities.
New Jersey’s Attorney General, Jennifer Davenport, commented, “These arrests result from thorough investigative efforts and strong cooperation between the Division of Criminal Justice and New Jersey State Police. Our office ensures businesses operate fairly and legally. The alleged conduct in this case was improper, and we will pursue accountability for those who cheat and steal.”
John Alite, an Albanian-American from Queens, has long-standing connections to organized crime, notably as an enforcer for the infamous Gotti and Gambino families. In 2015, he spoke to CBS News about leaving the mob, admitting to committing 15 murders, shooting 30 to 40 people, and assaulting over a hundred others.
He described a particular hit, stating, “While we were in conversation, I shot him two or three times in the head. Afterward, it was nothing, like going to a baseball game; I went out for a cheeseburger, double cheese, Coke, and fries.” Alite served over 14 years in prison in the U.S. and Brazil before rejecting his mob ties upon release.
He created a popular podcast, “Catch Me On The Run,” detailing his mob years and life fleeing the law. Alite has been featured in books and documentaries. He joined the council in May 2025, appointed by Englishtown’s mayor, Daniel Francisco. Alite expressed his desire to help the community following his daughter’s death from a fentanyl overdose, stating, “I’m not a criminal anymore. I’m on a mission to do things the right way.”