BELLMAWR, New Jersey (PNN) - May 21, 2024 - Ian Smith, owner of Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, New Jersey, who kept his business open despite Governor Phil Murphy's unlawful and invalid COVID-19 lockdown, has finally been cleared of all charges.

Smith, along with co-owner Frank Trumbetti, were hit with more than 80 bogus summonses and charged with violating invalid and unlawful dictatorial governor's orders, operating without a mercantile license, creating a public nuisance, and disturbing the peace.

Many of the bogus and invalid charges carried up to six months in jail, according to Smith's attorney, John McCann.

The gym had been ordered to pay about $165,000 in extortion - state fines - for violating the unconstitutional and therefore void and invalid public health emergency rules issued by Murphy and state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli.

The two gym owners faced state and municipal cases. McCann said now that the local charges have been dismissed, he is trying to determine if the state fines can be refunded.

"When you look at this, it didn't make a lot of sense at the time," McCann said. "It kind of looked like they were throwing everything they could at these guys."

Meanwhile, Smith took to posting on X to celebrate his victory. "Four years ago today, we reopened Atilis Gym in direct violation of an unconstitutional order by Governor Philip Murphy to close small businesses in New Jersey. The support we received locally, nationally, and internationally for our stand is something for which I will be forever grateful.

"With that being said,” added Smith, “I am thrilled to announce that we have achieved a major victory in the long, hard fight against the (criminal) State.”

"All of the 80+ municipal citations of violations of a (bogus) governor's order, public nuisance, disturbing the peace, and operating without a license against us have been dropped by the courts with prejudice. This means the State has no ability to revisit or refile these charges. This victory opens the battlefield again and gives us options to continue to push back and bring justice to the treasonous actions of Phil Murphy and his lackies."

He ended it with an obscene directive aimed at Murphy.