Democrat "kingmaker" George Norcross has been indicted on racketeering charges alongside his brother and four other defendants.

Norcross and his brother, Phillip Norcross, and four other defendants were charged in the 13-count indictment filed by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin. Norcross has been one of the most important figures in New Jersey politics for decades and now the public is learning why.

Platkin's indictment accused Norcross and his co-defendants of leading a “criminal enterprise” using political influence to steer economic redevelopment along the waterfront of Camden, New Jersey to their financial benefit.

The indictment read, "The entities that benefitted, including Cooper Health and [the insurance firm Conner Strong & Buckelew CSB] then occupied the properties they obtained interests in and sold the tax credits they obtained for millions of dollars."

Norcross was a key figure as he was chair of the board of trustees of Cooper University Health Care and chair of Conner Strong & Buckelew.

Criminal Enterprise

Norcross was one of the most important men in New Jersey but his influence also reached into the national stage as he was a former member of the Democratic National Committee.

Now he stands accused of running a "criminal enterprise in this state for at least the last twelve years," according to Platkin at a press conference that Norcross himself attended.

Platkin further stated, "On full display in this indictment is how a group of unelected, private businessmen used their power and influence to get government to aid their criminal enterprise and further its interests. The alleged conduct of the Norcross Enterprise has caused great harm to individuals, businesses, non-profits, the people of the State of New Jersey, and especially the City of Camden and its residents.”

By the sounds of things, Norcross was running a criminal organization that brought stories of mob enterprises that plagued the East Coast to mind. The indictment paints a picture of Norcross as a gangster who used threats of force to get his way and to cow developers into playing along with his scheme.

The indictment claimed, "When the developer would not relinquish his rights on terms preferred by George E. Norcross III, he threatened the developer that he would, in substance and in part, “f**k you up like you’ve never been f**ked up before and told the developer he would make sure the developer never did business in Camden again."

The Democrat Party has a lot of explaining to do in answering why Norcross was allowed so much power and influence for decades while running a criminal enterprise.

Crooks and Bullies

George Norcross's brother, Donald Norcross, is currently a member of the House of Representatives. Dana Redd, another defendant, is a former mayor of Camden and a former state senator.

This conspiracy extends far beyond Norcross due to his status as a "kingmaker" in the New Jersey Democrat Party. It's possible that many other figures were aware of this corruption and went along with it.

The only question is will this discovery have any impact in the longterm. New Jersey is a solid Democrat state and even the discovery of a criminal enterprise by the most powerful Democrat in the state is unlikely to change things.