New Jersey Councilman with Mob Ties Arrested for Extortion

A New Jersey council member, John Alite, known for his past as a mob enforcer, was arrested on Friday for extortion and other charges. Alite, aged 63, serves as a councilman in Englishtown, NJ. The Attorney General of New Jersey announced the charges, which include multiple counts of extortion and corporate misconduct.

Officials allege that Alite issued loans at rates exceeding legal limits and resorted to threats of violence to collect money and property. Prosecutors also claim he used his business, Straightened-Out Entertainment, Inc., to support these illegal activities.

John Alite, with a history as a Gambino family enforcer, poses in a 2013 photo on a Queens street. According to Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, this case resulted from diligent investigative work and collaboration between the Division of Criminal Justice and New Jersey State Police. “Our office is dedicated to ensuring fair and legal business practices,” Davenport stated. She added that the conduct alleged in this case is unacceptable, and those involved would be held accountable.

Born in Queens and of Albanian-American descent, Alite’s ties with organized crime trace back to his role as a top enforcer for the Gotti crime family. In a 2015 CBS News interview, Alite confessed to 15 murders, shooting 30 to 40 people, and beating over a hundred with pipes and bats. He recounted one particular hit, describing calmly going for a cheeseburger afterward. Alite served more than 14 years in U.S. and Brazilian prisons and later renounced his mob connections.

Following his release, Alite launched “Catch Me On The Run,” a podcast where he shared experiences from his mob years and evades the authorities. He also took part in writing books and featured in documentaries. In May 2025, Englishtown’s Mayor, Daniel Francisco, appointed Alite to the council. Alite stated to the Guardian his intent to aid the community, especially after his daughter died due to a fentanyl overdose. “I’m on a mission to do things the right way,” he declared at the time.