John Alite, a 63-year-old council member in Englishtown, New Jersey, was arrested Friday on multiple counts of extortion and corporate misconduct. Authorities allege he made illegal loans and threatened debtors with violence to collect payments.
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said the charges stem from an alleged scheme involving Alite's business, Straightened-Out Entertainment, Inc. Officials claim he charged interest rates above legal limits and used threats of violence to recover money and property.
"These arrests are the result of rigorous investigative work and the strong cooperation between the Division of Criminal Justice and New Jersey State Police," Davenport said. She added that the office is committed to holding accountable those who conduct business unlawfully.
Alite previously admitted in a 2015 CBS News interview to committing 15 murders and shooting 30 to 40 people while serving as an enforcer for the Gotti and Gambino crime families. He served more than 14 years in prison before his release and later launched a podcast detailing his past.
Appointed to the council in May 2025 by Mayor Daniel Francisco, Alite had said he sought the role to support the community after his daughter's death from a fentanyl overdose.
