NJ Political Boss George Norcross Indicted In Corruption Scheme

CAMDEN, NJ — Political powerbroker George E. Norcross III and several associates have been charged with racketeering and other corruption offenses after running what the state attorney general called a "criminal enterprise."

One of his brothers, his personal attorney, the former mayor of Camden and two others were also charged. Norcross has long been involved in the Democratic Party and has been considered one of the most powerful people in state politics, despite never holding elected office.

The 13-count indictment accuses Norcross and his allies of using their political influence to corruptly obtain lucrative waterfront real estate in Camden. Norcross is executive chair of the insurance firm Conner, Strong & Buckelew and of Cooper University Health Care's board of trustees.

"The Norcross Enterprise took the Camden waterfront all to themselves," Matthew J. Platkin, the state attorney general, said Monday at a news conference. "As George Norcross said, 'This is for our friends.'"

The defendants were charged with first-degree racketeering and various counts of financial facilitation, misconduct by a corporate official, and official misconduct and conspiring to commit theft by extortion, criminal coercion, financial facilitation, misconduct by a corporate official, and official misconduct. (View each suspect's charges below.)

The following people were also charged:

• Philip A. Norcross: Norcross's brother, who is an attorney and the managing shareholder and CEO of Parker McCay, a New Jersey law firm. He's the registered agent for the groups that own buildings in Camden at the center of the investigation. Like George Norcross, he is on the board of Cooper Health.
• William M. Tambussi: George Norcross's counsel, an attorney and partner at the law firm Brown and Connery. He is Norcross's longtime personal attorney and served as counsel to the Camden County Democratic Committee, City of Camden the Camden Redevelopment Agency, Cooper Health, and Conner Strong.
• Dana L. Redd: the former mayor of Camden, who is currently CEO of Camden Community Partnership. During her mayorship, which ran from 2010-18, she abused her position to benefit herself and the Norcross enterprise, authorities said
• Sidney Brown: CEO of NFI, a trucking and logistics company that benefitted from the development deals. Brown is also a Cooper Health board member and a partner in the groups that own the Camden buildings at the center of the investigation.
• John J. O'Donnell: of the The Michaels Organization, a residential-development company that owns several of the Camden buildings at the center of the indictment.

Since 2012, the Norcross Enterprise has used its influence over government officials to craft legislation to serve the enterprise's interest, according to Platkin. With the held of then-Camden Mayor Redd and other officials, the entity used parts of the city government to aid it in acquiring property through coercion and extortion, he said.

Norcross once told a developer that he had to relinquish his property rights, warning that he would make it impossible for the victim to do business in Camden, Platkin said. His co-conspirators also got a government-development agency to get leverage in private negotiations, according to the attorney general.

The 111-page indictment, filed June 13, was unsealed Monday. Their arraignment is scheduled for 10 a.m. July 9 in Mercer County Superior Court.

"On full display in this indictment is how a group of unelected, private businessmen used their power and influence to get government to aid their criminal enterprise and further its interests," Platkin said. "The alleged conduct of the Norcross Enterprise has caused great harm to individuals, businesses, nonprofits, the people of the State of New Jersey, and especially the City of Camden and its residents."

Norcross sat in the front row of the attorney general's news conference. In the lead-up, an official at the podium noted that only members of the press can ask questions. Norcross attempted to get a word in, but the official re-iterated the policy. It's unclear what Norcross said.

When asked about Norcross's presence at the news conference, Platkin declined comment.

Redd was "shocked" by Monday's legal action, according to her attorney.

"She's done nothing wrong," Henry Klingeman told Patch via email. "What she has done is serve the Camden community in public and not-for-profit roles for more than three decades. She has cooperated fully with the grand jury investigation for over a year and is unaware of evidence of wrongdoing by her or others. 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."

Patch reached out to the attorneys representing George and Philip Norcross and Tambussi for comment. Brown and O'Donnell did not have attorneys listed.

Norcross was chair of the Camden County Democratic Party from 1989-95 and has since held significant sway over local party organizations and fundraising in the state. He's also a former member of the Democratic National Committee.

His brother Donald, who is not charged, has represented Camden County and surrounding areas in the U.S. House of Representatives for 10 years. He is running for re-election in New Jersey's 1st Congressional District, which is heavily blue.

Charges

The indictment charges each suspect with the following (one count unless otherwise noted):

• George Norcross: racketeering (first-degree), six counts of financial facilitation of criminal activity (first-degree), two counts of conspiracy to commit theft by extortion (first-degree), conspiracy to commit theft by extortion (second-degree), two counts of misconduct by a corporate official, and official misconduct (second-degree).
• Philip Norcross: racketeering (first-degree), six counts of financial facilitation of criminal activity (first-degree), two counts of conspiracy to commit theft by extortion (first-degree), conspiracy to commit theft by extortion (second-degree), two counts of misconduct by a corporate official (second-degree), and official misconduct (second-degree).
• Tambussi: racketeering (first-degree), six counts of financial facilitation of criminal activity (first-degree), two counts of conspiracy to commit theft by extortion (first-degree), conspiracy to commit theft by extortion (second-degree), two counts of misconduct by a corporate official (second-degree), and official misconduct (second-degree).
• Redd: racketeering (first-degree), six counts of financial facilitation of criminal activity (first-degree), two counts of conspiracy to commit theft by extortion (first-degree), two counts of misconduct by a corporate official (second-degree), and official misconduct (second-degree).
• Brown: racketeering (first-degree), four counts of financial facilitation of criminal activity (first-degree), misconduct by a corporate official (second-degree), and official misconduct (second-degree).
• O'Donnell: racketeering (first-degree), four counts of financial facilitation of criminal activity (first-degree), misconduct by a corporate official (second-degree), and official misconduct (second-degree).

First-degree convictions carry 10-20 years in prison and a fine of up to $200,000. A conviction for first-degree racketeering requires the offender to serve 85 percent of their prison term before parole eligibility. Additional penalties, such as forfeiture of proceeds from the criminal activity, are also possible.

Second-degree offenses carry 5-10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000 upon conviction. Official misconduct has a mandatory minimum of five years for public officials convicted of that offense in relation to their office.