George Norcross, a former member of the Democratic National Committee who now resides in Florida, was in attendance at a press conference Platkin gave on the charges Monday.
The indictment says that “members and associates of the Norcross Enterprise, including George Norcross III used their political influence to tailor New Jersey economic development legislation to their preferences. After the legislation was enacted in September 2013, members and associates of the Norcross Enterprise conspired to, and did, extort and coerce others to obtain—for certain individuals and business entities — properties and property rights on the Camden, New Jersey waterfront and associated tax incentive credits.”
“The entities that benefitted, including Cooper Health and [the insurance firm Conner Strong & Buckelew CSB] then occupied the properties they obtained interests in and sold the tax credits they obtained for millions of dollars,” the indictment said.
Norcross was chair of the board of trustees of Cooper University Health Care and chair of Conner Strong & Buckelew.
The indictment says that Norcross’ criminal conduct included threatening a developer who had held the waterfront property rights necessary for the Norcross enterprise to build the tallest building on the Camden waterfront.
“When the developer would not relinquish his rights on terms preferred by George E. Norcross III, he threatened the developer that he would, in substance and in part, “f**k you up like you’ve never been f**ked up before and told the developer he would make sure the developer never did business in Camden again,” the indictment said.
“In a recorded phone call, [Norcross] later admitted to threatening the developer: ‘I said, `this is unacceptable. If you do this, it will have enormous consequences.’ [The developer] said, `Are you threatening me?’ I said, `Absolutely,’ ” according to the indictment.
Another brother, Donald Norcross, is currently a member of the House of Representatives for a district in southern New Jersey. David Norcross is not charged in the case involving his two brothers.
Phillip Norcross is managing shareholder and CEO of the Parker McCay law firm, and also is chairman of the board of the Cooper Foundation.
The other defendants in the case are William Tambussi, Dana Redd, Sidney Brown and John O’Donnell.
Tambussi is George Norcross’ long-time personal attorney, and counsel to the Camden County Democratic Committee.
Redd is a former mayor of Camden, a former state senator and is the current CEO of Camden Community Partnership.
Brown is the CEO of the trucking and logistics company NFI, and is a member of the board of Cooper Health.
O’Donnell is part of the executive leadership of The Michaels Organization, a residential development company.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
