Atilis Gym in Bellmawr was in the news several times throughout 2020 for defying state COVID-19 lockdown orders on the grounds that they are unconstitutional.

The owner of the gym, Ian Smith, explained how New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy confiscated the funds amid ongoing litigation between Atilis Gym and the state.

On Tuesday, the gym was notified it will face a fine of over $15,000 each day the business chooses to open its doors.

Smith told his nearly 250,000 Instagram followers, "As of this morning, without warning and without permission and in the middle of litigation, Governor Murphy took it upon himself to empty our bank account entirely to the tune of $165,00. As we do not charge our members, and have not charged our members since April 1st, we have fought this legal battle and paid our bills entirely on donations from you guys as well as t-shirt and merchandise sales in-store and online."