ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (VINnews) – John Alite, a former Gambino crime family associate and admitted hit man who was elected to the Englishtown Borough Council in March 2025, was arrested Friday on charges including extortion, terroristic threats and usury, New Jersey authorities said.

Alite, 63, faces multiple counts of theft by extortion, corporate misconduct, making terroristic threats and usury — the lending of money at illegal interest rates, the state Attorney General’s Office announced. He was arrested alongside Stephen Locrotondo, 67.

Prosecutors allege the pair issued high-interest loans exceeding 50% annually through Alite’s company, Straightened-Out Entertainment, then used threats of violence to shake down victims for additional money and property. Alite made at least $75,000 through the alleged scheme, court documents said.

One victim was forced to turn over a residential property, according to the charges. Alite is accused of threatening to strike a victim in the head with a baseball bat and telling him he has “gut” people “like fish,” the documents state.

A search of Alite’s Englishtown home by New Jersey State Police uncovered numerous weapons, including two slapjacks, metal knuckles, an expandable baton, six baseball bats and approximately two dozen switchblade and other knives, court papers said.

Alite’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday.

“Our office is dedicated to ensuring that all businesses conduct themselves fairly and lawfully,” Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said in a statement. “The conduct alleged in this case was anything but, and we will work to hold those who cheat and steal accountable.”

Alite, who served time in federal prison for racketeering and admitted to at least two killings while working with John A. Gotti, was released in 2012 after cooperating with prosecutors. In a 2015 CBS News interview, he claimed involvement in 15 killings, up to 40 shootings and roughly 100 beatings with pipes and baseball bats.

In recent years, Alite sought to rebrand himself as a motivational speaker and community figure in Monmouth County. He was sworn in as a councilman last year and maintains a popular YouTube podcast with more than 110,000 subscribers and an Instagram account with over 520,000 followers.

On June 6, Alite posted an Instagram video set to Sia’s “Unstoppable,” showing him in handcuffs followed by footage of him in council chambers.

“I went from walking in handcuffs to walking into City Hall,” he wrote. “Not because I was lucky. Because I chose to change, and I never stopped working to become a better man.”

Englishtown Mayor Daniel Francisco said Saturday that Alite remains a member of the council, and any decision about his future in the position rests with Alite himself.

“John is an elected official chosen by the voters last year,” Francisco said in an email. “The decision to continue in the position rests solely on him. The borough and the council have no legal authority over his seat.”

Alite was previously arrested in Brazil in 2008 and pleaded guilty to federal racketeering charges, according to NJ.com.