John Alite, a councilman in the Monmouth County borough of Englishtown and a former Gambino crime family enforcer, was arrested Friday on charges of extortion, loansharking, terroristic threats, and corporate misconduct.
The office of New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced on Friday the arrest of Alite, 63, along with a second man, Stephen Locrotondo, 67, of Bridgewater, who faces usury and conspiracy charges for allegedly agreeing to receive interest on loans in excess of the maximum rate permitted by law.
Prosecutors allege Alite made loans at illegal rates and then threatened victims with violent acts to collect money and property. He also allegedly used his company, Straightened-Out Entertainment, Inc., to promote the scheme.
When state police arrested him at his home, they uncovered six baseball bats, brass knuckles, an expandable baton, two weighted striking weapons, and approximately two dozen knives. One bat was positioned next to his front door. Investigators allege Alite specifically threatened to hit one victim with a baseball bat across the head.
“These arrests are the result of rigorous investigative work and the strong cooperation between the Division of Criminal Justice and New Jersey State Police,” said Attorney General Jennifer Davenport in a statement. “The conduct alleged in this case was anything but fair and lawful, and we will work to hold those who cheat and steal accountable.”
Alite’s history with organized crime is well documented. A former top enforcer for the Gambino crime family, he has publicly admitted to committing murders and dozens of shootings during his years working in organized crime.
He served more than 14 years in prison in the United States and Brazil before renouncing his mob ties, launching a podcast, and eventually settling in Englishtown—where he was appointed to the borough council in May 2025.
If the latest arrest tells us anything, the mob life is one that isn’t easy to leave behind.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.