New Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross was charged Monday with racketeering and other crimes in connection with a waterfront redevelopment and the use of government-issued tax credits.
At a news conference in Trenton, New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin accused Norcross, a former Democratic National Committee member and onetime head of the Camden County Democratic Party, of leading a criminal enterprise. Five alleged co-conspirators were also indicted.
Michael Critchley, Norcross’ attorney, called the indictment a political vendetta.
“What they did is they relied on some political adversaries” and that “resulted in this tortured and unfair prosecution,” Critchley said.
The charges stem in part from 2012-13, when Norcross, 68, sought to redevelop the waterfront in Camden, New Jersey, which overlooks Philadelphia. Camden at that point had among the highest crime rates in the nation. The 111-page indictment unsealed Monday alleges that he threatened a developer who would not relinquish his rights to waterfront property and that Norcross used political influence to orchestrate tax incentives to benefit organizations he controlled.
Members of the alleged conspiracy also got a government development agency to help them get leverage in private negotiations, said Platkin, who is also a Democrat.
Prosecutors said the 13-count indictment outlined how the group flexed political influence and acquired property and property rights through coercion, extortion and other criminal acts. All six defendants are accused of first-degree racketeering, financial crimes, misconduct by corporate officials and conspiracy.
Norcross and his associates “used their political influence to tailor New Jersey economic development legislation to their preferences,” the indictment says.
“The alleged conduct of the Norcross Enterprise has caused great harm to individuals, businesses, non-profits, the people of the State of New Jersey, and especially the City of Camden and its residents. That stops today. We must never accept politics and government – that is funded with tax dollars – to be weaponized against the people it serves. Today we reaffirm that no one in our state is above the law – period,” Platkin said in a statement.
The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned July 9 in Mercer County, New Jersey.
In remarks outside the justice complex that includes the attorney general’s office, Norcross demanded a trial in two weeks and called Platkin a coward. He said he was left thinking, “Where’s the beef?”
The other defendants are Norcross’ brother Philip Norcross, a New Jersey lawyer; William Tambussi, George Norcross’ longtime lawyer; Dana Redd, Camden Community Partnership chief executive and former Camden mayor; Sidney Brown, chief executive of trucking and logistics company NFI; and development company executive John O’Donnell.
An attorney representing Philip Norcross called him a stellar lawyer with an “unblemished reputation.”
“The notion that he would be charged with crimes is simply outrageous,” lawyer Kevin Marino said. Marino declined to address any specific allegations in the indictment.
Philip Norcross, the attorney, and Rep. Donald Norcross of New Jersey are brothers of George. A message left for the congressman was not immediately returned.
Henry Klingeman, Redd’s attorney, said she was surprised by the charges.
“She’s done nothing wrong. … She has cooperated fully with the grand jury investigation for over a year and is unaware of evidence of wrongdoing by her or others,” Klingeman said. “She looks forward to fighting these false allegations in the courtroom before a judge and jury, so she can reclaim her good name that has now been tarnished by the Attorney General’s unjust and unjustified action.”
Messages seeking comment were left with a lawyer for Tambussi.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
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