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In Trenton Tuesday, George Norcross and five co-defendants pleaded not guilty to criminal racketeering charges.

Attorney General Matthew Platkin brought the charges last month. The indictment, which was akin to a political earthquake here in the great Garden State, accused Norcross and co-defendants of participating in a criminal enterprise. Allegedly, “The Norcross Enterprise” used fear, intimidation and other tactics to control and steer Camden Waterfront redevelopment projects pertaining to a tax incentive program they helped create, according to the lawsuit.

As NJBIZ reported, the 13-count, 111-page indictment alleges that from as early as 2012 through the present, The Norcross Enterprise:

• Committed unlawful acts and used power and influence to obtain property and property rights on the Camden Waterfront;
• Collected millions of dollars in government-issued tax credits;
• Controlled and influenced government officials to further the interests of “the enterprise”;
• Crafted legislation tailored to serve the interests of “the enterprise.”

Also charged in the indictment were:

• Philip Norcross – brother of George; attorney, managing shareholder and CEO of Parker McCay; member, Cooper University Health Care board
• William Tambussi – attorney and partner at Brown and Connery law firm; longtime personal attorney of George Norcross
• Dana Redd – former Camden mayor; current CEO of Camden Community Partnership
• Sidney Brown – CEO of trucking and logistics company NFI
• John O’Donnell – CEO of real estate company The Michaels Organization

Not guilty

All the defendants pleaded not guilty before Judge Peter Warshaw, with the exception of Brown. His arraignment was delayed due to his attorney’s involvement in another high-profile political case, for U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez.

On July 9, Norcross’ attorney Michael Critchley added that his client “emphatically states that he is not guilty.”

Norcross has vehemently denied the charges and been forceful in his pushback. In a now-iconic moment of Jersey lore, he even showed up at last month’s press conference – sitting just feet away from Platkin – as the indictment charges were announced, and accusing the attorney general and the Murphy administration of a political vendetta.

The case has sent reverberations through the state’s political and business landscape. It’s also resulted in Norcross taking a leave of absence as executive chairman of Conner Strong & Buckelew, the insurance brokerage firm he founded in Camden.

‘Charges in search of a crime’

Critchley put out a statement stressing that Norcross has done nothing wrong and plans to prove that everything done by him and his co-defendants was for the benefit of the City of Camden and Cooper University Health Care.

Norcross serves as chairman of the board of trustees for the health care system.

“Anyone reviewing the indictment will see these are charges in search of a crime,” said Critchley. “There will be much more to say in the future, but for now, suffice to say that the fact of what actually occurred and why these charges were brought will come out. When they do, we expect a full exoneration”

“We must never accept politics and government – that is funded with tax dollars – to be weaponized against the people it serves,” said Platkin when he announced the indictment. “Today we reaffirm that no one in our state is above the law – period.”

This story is developing. Please stay with NJBIZ for the very latest.