Camden, N.J. — A Superior Court judge has thrown out all racketeering charges against Democratic power broker George Norcross and his co-defendants, dealing a major blow to Attorney General Matt Platkin’s high-profile case against the longtime South Jersey political figure.In a ruling issued Tuesday, Judge Peter Warshaw sided with defense attorneys who argued prosecutors failed to meet the legal threshold required to prove first-degree racketeering conspiracy and related offenses. The decision effectively nullifies a significant portion of the state’s 13-count indictment, which alleged Norcross led an enterprise that used political influence to seize property rights along the Camden Waterfront while securing millions of dollars in state-issued tax credits.
The ruling is a significant legal victory for Norcross, a longtime insurance executive and Democratic power broker, and his co-defendants, including:
- Philip Norcross, his brother and an influential attorney;
- Dana Redd, former Camden mayor and longtime official;
- William Tambussi, Norcross’s personal attorney;
- Sidney Brown, CEO of NFI; and
- John O’Donnell, a leader at the Michaels Organization.
In June, Attorney General Matt Platkin unveiled a sweeping 111-page indictment alleging that Norcross and his associates operated as an organized criminal enterprise, using their connections to improperly obtain tax credits and exert control over key developments in Camden.
The case centered on claims that Norcross and his allies worked to benefit from lucrative tax incentives while impeding Camden’s broader redevelopment efforts. Defense attorneys, however, called the charges politically motivated and legally unsound.
During a hearing in January, Norcross’s legal team urged Judge Warshaw to dismiss the case outright, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish critical elements of a racketeering conspiracy under state law.
It remains unclear whether the Attorney General’s Office will seek to appeal the ruling or pursue alternative legal avenues against Norcross and his co-defendants. Other counts in the indictment may still be under review.
The dismissal of racketeering charges is a major setback for Platkin, whose case was touted as a landmark effort to hold politically connected figures accountable for alleged corruption.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
