New Jersey Democratic power broker charged with racketeering, criminal conspiracy

TRENTON, N.J. - On Monday, George E. Norcross III, a South Jersey power broker and insurance executive was indicted on 13 state counts of criminal conspiracy and racketeering charges.

A Camden, N.J., native and former student of Rutgers University Camden, Norcross, 68, is known as one of the most powerful unelected officials in the Garden State.

While he never held elected office, Norcross has wielded political power and acted as an influential figure in New Jersey politics for decades. He served on the Democratic National Committee until 2021 and formerly acted as the head of the Camden County Democratic Party.

Throughout the years, he built a Democratic Party machine as well as alliances with Republicans including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

In 2023 he decided that he would be stepping back from state politics, telling Politico New Jersey that he was ready to "scale back his political activities and shift his focus to other professional and personal interests."

Platkin details charges: George Norcross III indicted. Who was charged? What are the charges?

A subject of scrutiny by officials for years, this indictment — as bad as it is — is just the latest setback for Norcross. He and his brother Philip were among four shareholders who piled up stock while fighting for control of Philadelphia-based Republic Bank, only to see it seized by regulators in April.

Back in November, he made headlines after being ejected from a Philadelphia Eagles game for refusing to remove a U.S.-Israeli flag that he hung from his luxury suite.

His brother, Rep. Donald Norcross, serves New Jersey's 1st Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives and was not implicated or charged.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Who is George Norcross? NJ power broker indicted on 13 charges