A New Jersey councilman with a notorious past as a mob enforcer has been arrested on charges of extortion and other offenses. John Alite, aged 63, serves as a council member in Englishtown, NJ. He faces multiple counts of extortion, corporate misconduct, and additional charges, according to New Jersey’s Attorney General.

Investigators claim Alite provided loans beyond the legal interest rate limits and used violent threats to collect payments and seize property if debtors did not comply. His business, Straightened-Out Entertainment, Inc., allegedly facilitated this scheme, promoting illicit activities.

Attorney General Jennifer Davenport commended the collaborative efforts of the Division of Criminal Justice and New Jersey State Police. “These arrests are the result of rigorous investigative work and the strong cooperation…Our office is dedicated to ensuring that all businesses conduct themselves fairly and lawfully,” she stated.

Alite’s history is marked by connections to organized crime, notably as the top enforcer for the Gotti crime family and a member of the Gambino family. In 2015, he discussed his past with CBS News, revealing involvement in 15 murders, numerous shootings, and assaulting hundreds with pipes and bats. He recounted a specific hit, detailing how he shot a man in the head multiple times and casually continued his day. Alite served over 14 years in prison in the United States and Brazil. Following his release, he renounced his mob ties.

Alite transitioned into a media presence, launching a podcast, “Catch Me On The Run,” to share his experiences from the mob and life on the run. He also contributed to books and appeared in documentaries. His appointment to the council came from Mayor Daniel Francisco in May 2025, motivated by a desire to aid the community after his daughter’s tragic fentanyl overdose. Alite expressed his intention to reform, stating, “I’m on a mission to do things the right way.”