Passaic County Judge Imre Karaszegi Jr. ordered the Englishtown councilman detained pending trial on extortion and usury charges. The borough lacks clear authority to remove him from office.

Authorities on June 19, 2026 arrested John Alite, a seated Englishtown councilman, and charged him with theft by extortion, corporate misconduct, usury and terroristic threats. Five days later Passaic County Superior Court Judge Imre Karaszegi Jr. cited "escalating dangerous behavior" and the risk of witness intimidation when ordering Alite held until his trial.

Alite is not merely a defendant. He is a seated member of the Englishtown Borough Council, and as of June 26, 2026, the borough's official website lists him with committee assignments: Chair of Recreation and Community Events and Co-Chair of Administration and Finance. His term expires December 31, 2027. 

Mayor Daniel Francisco told Asbury Park Press: "Every American is entitled to due process, including John. I will not rush to judgment before the facts are known, and he is entitled to a presumption of innocence while the judicial process unfolds."

The New Jersey Attorney General's Office alleges Alite operated a loansharking ring through Straightened-Out Entertainment Inc., a corporation registered in New Jersey with Alite listed as principal. He allegedly operated the business with Stephen Locrotondo, 67, of Bridgewater, who was also charged with usury and conspiracy.

Prosecutors said at the June 24 detention hearing that the operation involved $150,000 in loans carrying 7 percent monthly interest, according to News 12. NJ.com reported the total exceeded $200,000. The annual rate equals 84 percent simple interest or approximately 125 percent compounded annual interest, according to NJ.com and the Asbury Park Press.

Court documents describe investigators finding baseball bats, switchblades, knives, metal knuckles and an expandable baton in Alite's home. A State Police officer said the weapons appeared intended for debt collection. Deputy Attorney General Heather Hausleben told the court Alite threatened to hit a man with a baseball bat across his head. The complaint alleges Alite threatened two victims who were slow to pay and told them he "guts people like fish," according to News 12.

Alite joined council in March 2025 after Mayor Francisco, who also chaired the Republican county committee, nominated him to a vacancy. Four members had resigned between February and March of that year.

Alite was sworn in on March 12, 2025, alongside Fierro, per the document signed by Municipal Clerk Kerry Killeen. Francisco later told NJ Advance Media he nominated his wife to "troll" council members for not engaging in the nomination process with him. "I knew for a fact they weren't going to pick my wife," he said.

Alite then won the Republican primary in June of that year, and ran unopposed in the general election in November.

His criminal record was already public. Alite claimed 15 murders in a 2015 CBS interview. He pleaded guilty to racketeering as an associate of the Gambino crime family and testified against boss John Gotti, Jr.

Alite filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in 2025. Case 25-14326-PMM is pending in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania before Judge Patricia M. Mayer. The case remained active through at least April 16, 2026, according to court calendars. He also filed a federal civil lawsuit seeking more than $47,000 from business associates Steve Campanella and Deivy Simon for unpaid distributions from a used-car venture called KCL & TC Auto in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, according to an NJ.com report.

The borough's legal options for dealing with an indicted councilman are unsettled. Under N.J.S.A. 40A:60-6(b)(5), the Englishtown council may remove "any officer of the municipality, other than those officers excepted by law, for cause." The statute does not explicitly list elected council members among the officers "excepted by law," and no case law was located on whether the removal clause applies to them. N.J.S.A. 40A:16-3 lists vacancy triggers that include death, resignation, loss of residency and failure to attend meetings for eight consecutive weeks without being excused by a majority of the council. Indictment is not included.

The Attorney General's release lists Thomas R. Calcagni as Alite's defense counsel; Douglas Anton and Shawn Barnes appeared at the June 24 detention hearing. Alite remains on the Englishtown Borough Council. Mayor Daniel Francisco told the New York Times: "The decision to continue in the position rests solely on him."

Related Articles

• Former Gambino Enforcer and NJ Councilman Arrested on Extortion and Usury Charges

• Three New Jersey Businesses Plead Guilty in $4.79 Million Lucchese Racketeering Case

Sources

• Staff, "Englishtown council members quit, mayor picks ex-mobster," Asbury Park Press (April 14, 2025)

• Staff, "Mob hitman turned NJ councilman will stay jailed awaiting loansharking trial," NJ.com (June 24, 2026)

• Staff, "No Release For John Alite," News 12 NJ (June 24, 2026)

• CBS News, "Alite claimed responsibility for 15 murders, 30 to 40 shootings, and more than 100 beatings," CBS News (2015)

• Englishtown Borough, "April 30, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes," Englishtown Borough (April 30, 2025)

• Englishtown Borough, "Borough Officials Team Page," Englishtown Borough (June 25, 2026)

• Englishtown Borough, "February 26, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes," Englishtown Borough (February 26, 2025)

• Englishtown Borough, "March 12, 2025 Regular Meeting Agenda Packet," Englishtown Borough (March 12, 2025)

• Fox News Digital and News 12 NJ, "Mayor Daniel Francisco Statement on Alite Due Process," Fox News Digital and News 12 NJ (June 24, 2026)

• Monmouth County Republican Committee, "Monmouth County Republican Committee By-Laws," Monmouth County Republican Committee (2025)

• New Jersey Attorney General's Office, "AG: Organized Crime Investigation Results in Arrests of Two Men, Including Local Councilman," Insider NJ (June 20, 2026)

• New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, "Order E12-110, License Revocation: Stephen Locrotondo," State of New Jersey (September 28, 2012)

• New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission and Englishtown Borough Clerk, "Ethics Disclosure Search," NJ ELEC and Englishtown Borough (June 2026)

• New Jersey State Legislature, "N.J.S.A. 40A:16-3," State of New Jersey (1979)

• New Jersey State Legislature, "N.J.S.A. 40A:60-6," State of New Jersey

• New Jersey State Police, "Affidavit in Support of Criminal Complaint," State of New Jersey (June 2026)

• NJ Advance Media, "Francisco nominated wife to troll council members," NJ Advance Media (March 2025)

• Reuters, "Detention Hearing Photos," Reuters Connect (June 24, 2026)

• The Guardian, Edward Helmore, "Former mob killer leaves crime behind to become New Jersey councilman," The Guardian (May 17, 2025)

• Union County Superior Court, "State v. Stephen Locrotondo," Union County Superior Court (October 18, 2012)

• U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey, "USA v. Edward Dombrowski and Stephen Locrotondo, Criminal No. 09-907," District of New Jersey (December 2009)

• U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, "In re John Alite, Case No. 25-14326-PMM," Court Hearing Calendars (January 6, 2026; February 26, 2026; April 16, 2026)

• U.S. Department of Justice, "Linden Insurance Fraud Scheme Sentencing Release," Department of Justice (2012)

• Yahoo News, "Alite sued business associates Steve Campanella and Deivy Simon for unpaid distributions," Yahoo News (December 2025)