Democratic strongman George Norcross (center) speaks about his indictment on organized crime and other charges related to government-issued tax credits outside the Judicial Complex in Trenton, New Jersey, Monday, June 17, 2024, saying he wants to go to trial within two weeks and calling New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin a “coward.”
George NorcrossFor decades Democratic He is a kingmaker in New Jersey politics. Indictment Opened on Monday.
Norcross’s brother, Philip Norcrossand four other defendants were also charged in a 13-count, 111-page indictment. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin.
Platkin accused George Norcross of leading a “criminal enterprise” in southern New Jersey, using his political influence to shape the economic redevelopment of the Camden, New Jersey, waterfront to serve the defendants’ economic interests, and of intimidating and pressuring others to obtain property rights and tax breaks related to the development activities.
“Cooper Health and [the insurance firm Conner Strong & Buckelew CSB] They then occupied the properties in which they acquired interests and sold the tax credits they derived for millions of dollars,” the indictment states.
George Norcross, a 68-year-old insurance executive and former member of the Democratic National Committee, was chairman of the board of trustees of Cooper University Healthcare and chairman of Conner, Strong & Bucklew.
George Norcross, who now lives in Florida, attended a news conference about Platkin’s charges in Trenton on Monday.
“The indictment unsealed today alleges that George Norcross operated a criminal enterprise in this state for at least the past 12 years,” Platkin said.
“This indictment makes abundantly clear that a group of unelected private businessmen used their power and influence to persuade the government to support their criminal enterprise and advance their own profits,” the attorney general said. “Norcross Enterprises’ alleged conduct has caused enormous harm to individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations and the people of New Jersey, particularly the City of Camden and its residents.”
“That ends today,” Platkin added.
CNBC has reached out to George Norcross’ attorney, Michael Critchley, for comment on the indictment.
According to the indictment, Norcross’s criminal conduct also included blackmailing a developer who held the waterfront property rights his business needed to build the tallest building on Camden’s waterfront.
“When the developer did not release its rights on terms preferred by George E. Norcross III, Norcross III essentially and in part threatened the developer with ‘treating him worse than he had ever suffered before’ and told him he would never allow him to do business in Camden again,” the indictment states.
“In the recorded phone call, [Norcross] He later admitted to threatening the developer: “I said, ‘This is unacceptable. If you do this there will be severe consequences.'” [The developer] “I asked, ‘Are you threatening me?’ I replied, ‘Of course,'” according to the indictment.
Another brother, Donald Norcross, currently serves as a congressman representing southern New Jersey. David Norcross has not been charged in the cases involving the two brothers.
Philip Norcross is managing shareholder and CEO of the law firm Parker McKay and chairman of the Cooper Foundation.
New Jersey businessman and Philadelphia Inquirer co-owner George Norcross leaves Judge Patricia McInerney’s courtroom at Philadelphia City Hall.
Matt Luke | AP
Other defendants in the case are William Tambussi, Dana Redd, Sidney Brown and John O’Donnell.
Tambussi is the longtime personal attorney for George Norcross and counsel to the Camden County Democratic Committee.
Redd is a former Camden mayor, former state senator and currently serves as CEO of the Camden Community Partnership.
Brown is CEO of trucking and logistics company NFI and a member of the board of directors for Cooper Health.
O’Donnell is a member of the executive team of the Michaels Organization, a housing development company.
The six defendants face a possible sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison if convicted of the top charge of first-degree organized crime.
Other charges the defendants face include financial aiding and abetting, corporate officer misconduct, public official misconduct, conspiracy to commit theft by racketeering, criminal extortion, financial aiding and abetting, corporate officer misconduct and public official misconduct.
Donald Norcross was elected to the New Jersey State Assembly in January 2010, serving in that position for just one week before being appointed to the State Senate to replace Redd, who had become Mayor of Camden.
