Ex-Gotti mob enforcer who served time for murder is new Englishtown councilman

A former mob enforcer who spent fourteen years in prison for at least six murders was sworn in this week as a councilman in Englishtown, the New York Post has reported.

Local Republicans picked John Alite to replace Kyle Jewusiak, who resigned after winning in 2024.

Elite spent about fourteen years in prison for the murders, his role in roughly 37 shootings, and “countless beatdowns while working as a Gambino henchman,” according to the Post.   He later cooperated with law enforcement in their probe of organized crime.

He told the Post that he feels qualified to serve on the borough council.

“I mean every aspect of the street is like the government, so I understand the maneuvering these candidates are doing, so I feel I’ll be able to bring my knowledge and past history into politics,” Alite said.  “Yeah, there were people who opposed it — but I don’t run from my past at all.

The 62-year-old Alite was part of the Gambino crime family and a boyhood friend of mob boss John Gotti’s son; he was the best man at Gott’s wedding.  He testified against Gotti, Jr. in a 2008 racketeering trial and works as a motivational speaker urging young people to avoid a life of crime.

He said he views public service as part of his path to redemption and told The Post he might run for higher office, perhaps against Rep. Christopher Smith (R-Manchester) in the Republican primary next year.

Englishtown, a small Monmouth County municipality with a population of 2,346, is solid Republican and it’s not clear if Alite will get a primary opponent – the filing deadline is March 24 – or a Democrat in the general election.