John Alite, a council member from Englishtown, N.J., since 2025, was arrested last Friday on charges including extortion and terroristic threats, as announced by the state’s attorney general.
Alite, previously involved with the Gambino crime family, faced multiple charges such as theft by extortion, corporate misconduct, making terroristic threats, and usury—lending money at illegal interest rates.
At 63, Alite had been jailed for murders committed during his time with John A. Gotti. After his release in 2012, he attempted to reshape his image, even becoming a council member in Englishtown, located about 40 miles south of Newark, in March 2025.
In collaboration with Stephen Locrotondo, 67, Alite allegedly provided loans with annual rates over 50 percent, later using violent threats to recover money and property. According to court documents, these activities were carried out via his company, Straightened-Out Entertainment, and yielded at least $75,000.
Alite’s lawyer did not respond to inquiries on Saturday.
“Our office is dedicated to ensuring that all businesses conduct themselves fairly and lawfully,” stated Jennifer Davenport, New Jersey’s attorney general. She added that the conduct alleged in this case was the opposite.
Court documents detailed that Alite acquired residential property from a victim through his scheme. They stated that the charges were based on accounts from two victims, highlighting Alite’s “reckless disregard of the risk of causing such terror” through threats of violence.