Former mob hitman John Alite, who later became a councilman in Englishtown, New Jersey, has been arrested on extortion, loan sharking, and terroristic threats charges. The 63-year-old, once a key witness against John "Junior" Gotti, was taken into custody on Friday and released after a court appearance on Saturday. His next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
Alite allegedly provided loans at exorbitant interest rates and threatened violence to collect debts. Authorities found metal knuckles, an expandable baton, six baseball bats, and about two dozen knives in his home, including switchblades. Prosecutors claim he used his company, Straightened-Out Entertainment, to facilitate the scheme, earning at least $75,000.
Alite is accused of threatening to bash a man’s head with a baseball bat and previously bragged about violent acts, including gutting people like "fish." A co-defendant, Stephen Locrotondo, 67, was also arrested on usury and conspiracy charges.
Alite’s attorney, Douglas Anton, declined to comment before the next court appearance. The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office stated the arrests resulted from a joint investigation with the New Jersey State Police, emphasizing their commitment to holding those who engage in illegal business practices accountable.
Alite was appointed to the Englishtown Borough Council in 2025, nearly 15 years after serving a 10-year prison sentence for racketeering. He had previously been linked to the Gambino crime family and was a confidant of John Gotti Jr.