New Jersey councilman John Alite, a former mob enforcer who admitted to multiple murders, was arrested Friday on charges of extortion, loansharking, and terroristic threats. The 63-year-old Englishtown official allegedly made high-interest loans and threatened violence to collect payments, according to New Jersey's Attorney General. Prosecutors claim Alite used his company, Straightened-Out Entertainment, Inc., to facilitate the scheme.
A second man, Stephen Locrotondo, 67, was also charged in the case. Attorney General Jennifer Davenport stated the arrests resulted from a joint investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice and New Jersey State Police. "Our office is dedicated to ensuring all businesses conduct themselves fairly and lawfully," Davenport said. "The conduct alleged in this case was anything but."
Alite, an Albanian-American, has longstanding ties to organized crime, including his role as a top enforcer for the Gotti crime family and the Gambino family. In a 2015 interview with CBS News, he admitted to committing 15 murders, shooting 30 to 40 people, and beating over 100 others. He previously served 14 years in prison in the U.S. and Brazil.
Despite his criminal past, Alite claimed to have reformed and focused on community service in recent years. He owned multiple businesses, including nightclubs, glass shops, and a supermarket, before his arrest.