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George Norcross, a Democratic party boss who has long reigned over southern New Jersey, has been indicted on criminal racketeering charges in connection with the redevelopment of the city of Camden.
The 13-count indictment, which was unsealed on Monday, also charges Norcross’s brother Philip, Camden’s former mayor Dana Redd, and three other defendants, calling them members of the “Norcross criminal enterprise”.
The charges are focused on tax credits that Camden, an impoverished one-time manufacturing hub in southern New Jersey located just across the river from Philadelphia, used in recent years to try to entice companies and developers to invest there.
According to the complaint, the Norcrosses first used their political influence to ensure that the tax credit policy was drafted by the state legislature in ways that benefited them. They then allegedly forced rivals to surrender projects to them, as well as associated credits worth millions of dollars. Those credits could be used to offset state taxes or sold to others.
In one case, according to the complaint, when a developer refused to sell his development rights for a particular piece of land on terms that George Norcross demanded, he threatened to “f**k you up like you’ve never been f**ked up before”, and told him he would never again do business in Camden. In other cases, the Norcrosses allegedly enlisted Redd to gum up rivals’ projects.
George Norcross did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Norcross, an insurance broker, was the chair of Camden’s Democratic committee from 1989 to 1995, and a member of the Democratic National Committee until 2021. Another brother, Donald, is a member of the House of Representatives representing a district that includes Camden.
He is a legendary figure in the world of New Jersey politics, in which county bosses wield power with their ability to bestow endorsements, campaign contributions and prominent placement on the ballot to favoured candidates.
That system, long associated with public corruption, now appears to be under strain. Robert Menendez, the New Jersey Democratic senator renowned for his own local power base, is currently standing trial on federal criminal charges for allegedly taking actions to benefit Egypt in exchange for cash, jewellery and other bribes. He has pleaded not guilty.
Meanwhile, New Jersey’s controversial “county line” system — in which candidates endorsed by the local party are listed in a single row on the ballot, giving them a boost over outsiders — has been struck down by a court.
The Norcrosses’ overlapping business and political dealings have long faced scrutiny but they had not previously been charged. In an unusual scene, George Norcross attended the press conference in Trenton, the state capital, in which Matthew Platkin, the attorney-general, announced the charges.
“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,” Platkin said, accusing the Norcrosses and their associates of using criminal means to take “the Camden waterfront all for themselves”.
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