Prosecutors will appeal judge’s dismissal
By Nikita Biryukov – February 26, 2025 12:07 pm
A Superior Court judge on Wednesday dismissed all charges lodged in a racketeering indictment against Democratic power broker George Norcross and others, finding the indictment failed to state the elements of a crime.
Prosecutors had alleged Democratic power broker George Norcross and his allies were guilty of extortion and more, but the judge overseeing the case said their actions did not violate the law. (Photo by Hal Brown for New Jersey Monitor)
Judge Peter Warshaw’s dismissal comes just over a month after he heard oral arguments in which attorneys for Norcross and five others charged in the alleged conspiracy argued the case must be dismissed because prosecutors had failed to name criminal conduct in their indictment.
“The indictment must be dismissed because its factual allegations do not constitute extortion or criminal coercion as a matter of law,” the judge wrote in his order to dismiss the charges.
Prosecutors had accused Norcross and others of leveraging Camden government and the threat of reputational harm to strong-arm Philadelphia-based developer Carl Dranoff into ceding development rights and to oust Anthony Perno, the former CEO of the nonprofit Cooper’s Ferry, now called Camden Community Partnership.
Charges against former Camden Mayor Dana Redd, NFI CEO Sidney Brown, Michaels Organization CEO John O’Donnell, and attorneys Philip Norcross (George Norcross’ brother) and Bill Tambussi were likewise dismissed.
Because Warshaw dismissed the case without prejudice, prosecutors can appeal the decision. Attorney General Matt Platkin said he intends to do just that.
Related news stories:
Judge Dismisses Racketeering Charges Against Top Democratic Power Broker (NY Times)
Charges against South Jersey power broker George Norcross dismissed (WHYY News)
If you like this post, you’ll love our daily environmental newsletter, EnviroPolitics. It’s packed daily with the latest news, commentary, and legislative updates from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware…and beyond. Please do not take our word for it, try it free for a full month
