New Jersey Council Member Arrested for Extortion

A New Jersey council member with a history of criminal activity was taken into custody for extortion and other charges. John Alite, 63, a councilman in Englishtown, NJ, faces accusations of extortion, corporate misconduct, and additional offenses, according to New Jersey’s Attorney General.

Authorities claim Alite provided loans that exceeded the legal interest rate, using threats of violence to collect debts. His business, Straightened-Out Entertainment, Inc., allegedly played a role in the scheme.

“These arrests result from diligent investigative work and close collaboration between the Division of Criminal Justice and New Jersey State Police,” stated Attorney General Jennifer Davenport. “Our focus is ensuring justice and holding accountable those who cheat and steal.”

An Albanian-American from Queens, Alite’s criminal connections trace back to his time as an enforcer for the Gotti crime family and the Gambino family. In 2015, he shared his decision to leave organized crime in a CBS News interview. Alite confessed to committing 15 murders, shooting 30 to 40 individuals, and assaulting over one hundred others.

He described one hit, saying, “In the middle of a conversation, I shot him in the head multiple times, then spit on him. It meant nothing; afterward, I went for a cheeseburger, double cheese, Coke, and fries.” Alite spent over 14 years in prison in the United States and Brazil. After his release, he disassociated from his criminal past, launched a podcast, “Catch Me On The Run,” and contributed to books and documentaries.

In May 2025, Englishtown’s mayor, Daniel Francisco, appointed Alite to the council. Alite expressed his desire to support the community following his daughter’s death from a fentanyl overdose. “I’m not a criminal anymore,” he stated. “I’m committed to doing things the right way.”