Democratic power broker and New Jersey insurance executive George Norcross pleaded not guilty to racketeering charges on Tuesday morningin his first court appearance since being indicted last month as part of a widespread corruption scheme.
Norcross and four others – his brother Phillip Norcrossyour personal lawyer William Tambussideveloper John O’Donnell and former mayor of Camden Dana Redd – are accused of leading a “criminal enterprise” to collect millions of dollars in tax credits, controlling real estate deals on Camden’s waterfront and hijacking a development program for New Jersey’s poorest city.
All co-defendants pleaded not guilty in Mercer County Criminal Court in Trento.
Sydney Brown – the CEO of trucking company NFI and fifth co-defendant – has his arraignment delayed until August as his attorney, Larry Lustberg, is representing a co-defendant of Senator Bob Menendez on corruption trial in New York.
Prosecutors said they collected more than 13,000 pages of evidence and 2.5 million documents and audio files dating from 2012 to 2024.
“The indictment has a lot of words, a lot of pages, a lot of allegations,” Michael Critchley, Norcross’ attorney, told reporters after the arraignment. “But one thing it doesn’t have, it doesn’t have elements of crime.”
Critchley said he plans to file a motion to dismiss the charge.
Norcross, 68, is the insurer’s executive chairman Conner, Forte and Buckelew and is also president of the board of directors of Cooper Health. He now lives in Palm Beach, Florida.
His brother Phillip is a lobbyist who helped draft the tax incentive legislation that the six are accused of abusing. It was sanctioned by the then governor. Chris Christie.
New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin said the company extorted and threatened anyone who got in its way, turning Camden’s waterfront into the fiefdom of Norcross.
Among the accusations, Norcross allegedly strong-armed a developer in giving up property rights to what became the 18-story office plaza Triad Center 1828. Prosecutors said Norcross considered the property to be the new headquarters for his insurance company.
A previous investigation into Norcross’s political dealings in the early 2010s did not result in charges.
Norcross is one of New Jersey’s most powerful unelected Democrats and considered the de facto head of the South Jersey delegation. He is also involved in national politics.
His brother Donald is a Democratic member of the House representing the 1st U.S. Congressional District in New Jersey. The parliamentarian is not accused of any irregularity.
