New Jersey has ended its landmark racketeering case against former South Jersey Democratic power broker George Norcross.
Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said her office won’t petition the state Supreme Court to appeal a ruling dismissing criminal charges. Her office’s “prosecutorial resources would be best spent on other matters,” she said in a statement on Tuesday.
The case was brought in 2024 by then-Attorney General Matt Platkin, who accused Norcross and five co-defendants of running a criminal enterprise to enrich themselves with money from tax incentives meant to benefit the city of Camden.
Prosecutors alleged Norcross turned to extortion by threatening a local real estate developer to sell property for less than it was worth and then used the property to secure millions of dollars in state tax incentives.
A Superior Court ruled that Norcross’ actions didn’t amount to extortion or criminal coercion, a decision that was upheld on appeal.
Norcross is expected to file a lawsuit alleging malicious prosecution by Platkin, who now is in private practice. Norcross, a Florida resident, also is pushing for an investigation of the state’s case against him, according to his spokesman.
