George Norcrosswho for a long time Democratically political kingmaker in New Jersey, was convicted of organized crime in a accusation Unsealed Monday.
Norcross' brother, Philip Norcrossand 4 other defendants were also charged within the 13-count, 111-page indictment filed by Matthew Platkin, Attorney General of New Jersey.
Platkin accused George Norcross of leading a “criminal organization” in South Jersey that used its political influence to shape economic redevelopment along the Camden, New Jersey, waterfront to suit the defendants' financial interests by extorting and coercing others to acquire property rights and tax breaks related to the event efforts.
“The companies that benefited, including Cooper Health and [the insurance firm Conner Strong & Buckelew CSB] They then occupied the properties in which they had acquired interests and sold the tax credits they obtained 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 Health Care and chairman of Conner Strong & Buckelew.
George Norcross, now a Florida resident, attended a press conference Platkin gave on Monday in Trenton about the charges.
“The indictment unsealed today alleges that George Norcross has operated a criminal organization in this state for at least 12 years,” Platkin said.
“This indictment clearly demonstrates how a group of unelected, private businessmen abused their power and influence to get the government to support their criminal enterprise and advance its interests,” the Attorney General said. “The alleged conduct of the Norcross Enterprise caused great harm to individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations, the people of the State of New Jersey, and especially to the City of Camden and its residents.”
“That ends today,” Platkin added.
CNBC has asked George Norcross's attorney, Michael Critchley, for comment on the fees.
The indictment alleges that Norcross's criminal conduct included threatening a developer who owned the waterfront property rights needed for Norcross's company to build the tallest building on Camden's waterfront.
“When the developer wouldn’t hand over his rights on the terms preferred by George E. Norcross III, he threatened the developer that he would, in substance and partly, 'finish him as he had never been finshed before,' and told the developer that he would be certain the developer never did business in Camden again,” the indictment states.
“In a recorded telephone conversation [Norcross] later admitted to threatening the developer: “I said, 'This is unacceptable. If you do that, there will probably be enormous consequences.'” [The developer] said, “Are you threatening me?” I said, “Absolutely,” the indictment states.
Another brother, Donald Norcross, is currently a member of the House of Representatives for a district in southern New Jersey. David Norcross is not facing charges in the case involving his two brothers.
Phillip Norcross is managing partner and CEO of the law firm Parker McCay and also chairman of the board of the Cooper Foundation.
The other defendants within the case are William Tambussi, Dana Redd, Sidney Brown and John O'Donnell.
Tambussi is George Norcross's longtime personal attorney and advisor to the Camden County Democratic Committee.
Redd is a former mayor of Camden, former state senator, and current CEO of the Camden Community Partnership.
Brown is CEO of freight forwarding and logistics company NFI and a board member of Cooper Health.
O'Donnell is an element of the manager team of The Michaels Organization, a residential construction company.
The six defendants face ten to twenty years in prison if convicted of first-degree criminal conduct, the principal charge within the prosecution.
Other charges against the defendants include various counts of economic facilitation, misconduct of a company official and abuse of office, in addition to conspiracy to commit theft by extortion, criminal coercion, financial facilitation, misconduct of a company official and abuse of office.
Donald Norcross was elected to the New Jersey State Assembly in January 2010 and served only every week before being appointed State Senator to succeed Redd after she took office as mayor of Camden.
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