A hearing is scheduled to determine if racketeering and extortion charges against George Norcross III, a prominent South Jersey Democratic power broker, should be dismissed. Norcross and his lawyers are attempting to persuade a judge that his alleged actions, which involved threats and pressure on a rival developer, do not constitute criminal offenses.
A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday to determine if racketeering and extortion charges against George Norcross III, a prominent South Jersey Democratic power broker, should be dismissed. Norcross' lawyers are set to return to court, aiming to persuade a judge to throw out the indictment, which alleges that Norcross used his influence to control local government entities. The alleged goal was to acquire valuable waterfront real estate in Camden from rival developers and others.
Norcross, an insurance executive, chair of the board at Cooper University Health Care, and longtime leader of the Democratic Party in South Jersey, and his five codefendants face serious accusations. Attorneys for Norcross argue in court filings that his alleged threats do not constitute criminal extortion. They claim that if Norcross warned a developer named Dranoff that he would face severe consequences if he refused to sell his property rights under Norcross' preferred terms, it was simply a reflection of the competitive business world, not criminal conduct. The indictment states that Norcross told Dranoff he would “f— you up like you’ve never been f— up before” and “make sure you never do business in this town again” if he didn’t comply. It further alleges that Norcross warned Dranoff of “enormous consequences” for his unwillingness to sell. Facing these threats and pressure from Norcross and his associates, the indictment says, Dranoff sold property and development rights for less than he believed they were worth. Prosecutors claim that Norcross and his associates then used this property to construct an office tower and apartment complex, securing millions of dollars in tax credits to offset construction costs. They benefited from a state economic development program that Norcross and his allies helped shape through their influence over the New Jersey Legislature.Norcross' attorneys vehemently dispute these allegations. However, at this stage of the case, prosecutors only need to demonstrate that the charging document outlines potential crimes that could be proven at trial. Norcross' lawyers contend that even if their client made the threats described in the indictment, they were within the bounds of acceptable business practice. They argue that Dranoff had no legal right to conduct business with Norcross or his associates in Camden and that any pressure applied was simply a manifestation of the competitive nature of the business world. They also challenge the notion that Norcross' reputation as a “political boss” instilled fear in Dranoff, leading to the relinquishment of his property, which they contend is not extortion
POLITICS RICO EXTORTION SOUTH JERSEY DEMOCRATS GEORGE NORCROSS CAMDEN NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE
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