South Jersey's Democratic power broker, George Norcross III, faces racketeering and criminal conspiracy charges, according to a 13-count indictment unsealed Monday.
The charges stem from tax breaks for a dozen companies that had ties to Norcross, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. Norcross is charged alongside his brother, Philip Norcross, as well as William Tambussi, Dana Redd, Sidney Brown and John O’Donnell, Platkin's office announced. Norcross' brother, Rep. Donald Norcross, a Democrat who represents New Jersey's 1st Congressional District, was not implicated or charged.
Norcross has been under scrutiny from officials for years and was seated front row at a press conference convened to announced the charges in Trenton on Monday afternoon.
What did Platkin say?
"It's often said that in New Jersey, politics is a blood sport, and what's meant by that is that if you don't go along with the demands of those in political power, you'll get hurt, you might lose your job, might lose your business, maybe you lose your reputation, or maybe government, the very government that you vote for, that you support with your tax dollars, that exists to serve you will instead be weaponized against you," Platkin said. "All of these consequences are on full display in this indictment, but there is nothing inherent in our state's culture that requires us to accept politics and government that functions in this way, and as we show clearly in this indictment, there's nothing legal about it either."
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The 13-count indictment alleges Norcross and his associates obtained both property and property rights on the waterfront in Camden, collected millions of dollars in government-issued tax credits and controlled and influenced government officials to further their own interests for property and property rights through coercion, extortion and other criminal acts.
Unsealed by Platkin’s office on Monday, the 111-page indictment claims that, for more than a decade, Norcross and his associates used their power and influence on government officials to craft legislation with the help of Camden officials.
Platkin spoke for about 20 minutes, detailing specific examples from the indictment about actions taken by Norcross and his co-defendants to benefit what officials referred to as the Norcross Enterprise.
“At least as early as 2012 through the present, the state alleges that the Norcross enterprise used its power and influence over government officials to craft legislation tailored to serve the interests of the Norcross enterprise,” Platkin said during the press conference.
While announcing the charges, Platkin said that Norcross enterprises unlawfully intervened in the purchase of the L3 complex by a nonprofit redevelopment organization and that the Camden Mayor's Office directed the nonprofit's leaders to meet regularly with Philip Norcross, a lawyer in private practice, who “did not hold elected office or any governmental position within the city of Camden.”
Platkin said that the “alleged objects and purposes of the Norcross enterprise” were to preserve and build on the power, reputation and profits of the enterprise, to protect and promote George Norcross, to control access to the local political party apparatus, to direct appointments to government positions and to exert influence and control over government agencies to cause opponents to lose government contracts which would enrich and reward the Norcross enterprise members and allies as well as influencing the New Jersey Legislature to pass legislation to increase tax credit awards for projects in Camden and advance the interests of the Norcross enterprise by concealing, misrepresenting and hiding the illegal operation of the Norcross enterprise.
“Through their alleged acts, the Norcross enterprise was able to obtain the rights to build multiple buildings, obtain hundreds of millions of dollars in government, issued tax credits, among other benefits,” Platkin said. “They allegedly did this with the complicity and acquiescence of various state and local elected and appointed officials who turned a blind eye to their duties and obligations to the people of New Jersey to instead serve the interests of a powerful few.”
What are the charges?:George Norcross III indicted. Who was charged?
Who is George Norcross?:NJ power broker charged with racketeering, criminal conspiracy
What did Norcross and his attorney say?
Michael Critchley, attorney for Norcross, told the media after the attorney general’s press conference that he and his client “have been trying to be cooperative as much as we can” and that investigators “never gave Mr. Norcross the decency of interviewing him or asking him to appear before the grand jury.”
“What they did is, they relied on some political adversary and resulted in this tortured and unfair prosecution,” he said.
Kevin Marino, who is representing Norcross’s brother and co-defendant Philip, called for the “speediest trial we can possibly get.”
Norcross himself also spoke, taking shots at Platkin for continuing the investigation and for the task force that started it.
“All the claims, all the smears, all the allegations that he made at the beginning of his press conference, when he was speaking about the city of Camden in a time in which it was suffering and as America's most dangerous and poor city,” Norcross said. “I thought he was going to start talking about those like Governor Byrne, Governor Kean, Governor Corizon, Governor Christie, Governor Florio — all our prior governors, who with President Barack Obama, have come to Camden to applaud the successes that have gone on by scores of people who have banded together to try and turn that city around.”
What other charges does Norcross face?
The defendants also face charges 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.
An arraignment for the defendants is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9, before Superior Court Judge Peter E. Warshaw Jr. in Mercer County.
A task force formed by Gov. Phil Murphy early in his administration found that the state doled out tax breaks focused on the Camden companies tied to Norcross.
Murphy hired the team of lawyers in January 2019, after the state comptroller’s audit showing loose oversight and management of tax incentives.
The task force recommended in July 2020 that the EDA freeze the incentive awards for a dozen companies totaling $578 million. It also made unspecified criminal referrals.
Murphy started his tenure in Trenton at odds with Norcross, but has been building bridges in recent years. He has headlined fundraisers held by Norcross’s PAC in recent years.
Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com
