Brokerage chairman places in plea over state racketeering prices

On Tuesday, George E. Norcross III – government chairman of insurance coverage and advantages brokerage Conner Robust & Buckelew – entered a not responsible plea in New Jersey in response to racketeering prices.

Lawyer Common Matt Platkin alleges Norcross threatened property homeowners to take over their property and tailor-made tax incentive legal guidelines for the good thing about organizations beneath his management. 4 of Norcross’ co-defendants additionally pleaded not responsible in Mercer County’s state Superior Court docket, whereas one other co-defendant has but to enter a plea.   

An Related Press report cited Norcross’ lawyer, Michael Critchley, as telling Decide Peter Warshaw: “My consumer emphatically states that he’s not responsible.”

The previous Democratic Nationwide Committee member is accused of working a legal enterprise from 2012, involving threats to property homeowners, utilizing Camden metropolis authorities for land acquisitions, and crafting tax incentives favorable to his firms.

Whereas Norcross has been beneath investigation for years, he has persistently denied wrongdoing. He has additionally labeled the prosecution as politically pushed and baseless, expressing his anger when the fees have been first introduced.

Different defendants pleading not responsible have been Norcross’ brother Philip, William M. Tambussi, ex-Camden Mayor Dana L. Redd, and John J. O’Donnell. Sidney R. Brown was absent from court docket as his lawyer is concerned within the Menendez trial in New York.

Again in June when the six have been charged, Platkin declared: “After we say no-one is above the law, we imply it and we’ll proceed to carry accountable anybody who places their curiosity above the general public curiosity, irrespective of how highly effective they could be.”

Norcross, presently residing in Palm Seaside, Florida, was a Democratic Nationwide Committee member till 2021. He beforehand served as the pinnacle of the Camden County Democratic Get together and was often known as a monetary backer to Democrats.

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