TOMS RIVER, NJ—Political insiders in New Jersey celebrated the 95th birthday party of Toms River power broker Joseph Buckelew, who was attended by his business partner George Norcross. Buckalew, a longtime former Ocean County GOP Chairman and the man behind the man behind the green curtain in local politics, was joined by his close friend and business partner, South Jersey Democrat political power boss Norcross.
Dozens of high-profile personalities were at the party in Farmingdale, including comedian Joe Piscapo, who performed on stage.
In his sunset years, the government health insurance magnate continues to be active in politics and government contracts.
One person who was notably absent at the high-profile birthday party was Toms River Mayor Dan Rodrick. Earlier this year, Rodrick, a Republican, had canceled a long-running contract with Connor, Strong, and Buckelew, the firm owned by the two powerbrokers.
According to records, that contract could reduce the firm's public take by as much as $20 million annually in 2024 alone.
"I'm not going to comment on the birthday party," Rodrick said. "I can say we're saving township taxpayers millions of dollars annually by making the switch."
Rodrick said he was invited to the birthday party, but chose not to attend.
Here's what happened:
When Toms River Mayor Dan Rodrick announced he was terminating the township’s long-term agreement with Connor Strong and Buckalew as the municipal health insurance provider, he knew he would save the township millions of dollars annually.
What he didn’t know was that the broker he fired was under state and federal investigation for political corruption, racketeering, extortion, and operating a criminal operation.
The company, which is Camden County, has an office in Downtown Toms River is owned and operated by South Jersey political power bosses George Norcross and Joe Buckalew.
George Norcross is typically referred to as New Jersey’s most powerful unelected political official, a Democrat party powerbroker on the state level. His business partner in the firm, Joe Buckalew, is the former chairman of the Ocean County GOP but continues to be a major powerbroker in the county.
The two men are close friends and business partners who reportedly vacation together annually in Florida. Both Buckelew and Norcross refused to comment on the matter to Shore News Network.
Today, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office indicted Norcross. Attorney General Matt Platkin announced the indictment against Norcross and five other defendants following a years-long criminal and political corruption probe into the powerful Democrat’s business affairs.
Chris Christie sat and ate while George Norcross was ejected from a Philadelphia Eagles game.
Norcross has been credited with securing both of Chris Christie's successful campaigns for New Jersey governor.
https://www.shorenewsnetwork.com/2023/11/06/christie-sat-silent-and-ate-as-democrat-party-boss-pal-ejected-from-eagles-skybox
AG Platkin charged Norcross with racketeering and operating a criminal enterprise after a lengthy investigation into a criminal enterprise run by George E. Norcross III and his associates in South Jersey and elsewhere.
Today, Mayor Dan Rodrick, when asked, confirmed that one of his first actions as mayor was to cut ties with Norcross’ firm after it had been entrenched in the township for decades and rehired each year during former Mayor Maurice Hill’s term of office.
The state charged Norcross with various counts of financial facilitation, misconduct by a corporate official, and official misconduct and conspiring to commit theft by extortion, criminal coercion, financial facilitation, misconduct by a corporate official, and official misconduct.
Rodrick declined to comment on the criminal matter when asked about the indictment.
“I don’t know about that or what’s going on, but we switched providers based only on a financial decision for the township,” Rodrick said. "We are saving $2 million a year by cutting out the middleman insurance broker and dealing directly with Aetna. I am happy about that and happy we can continue finding ways to cut costs in Toms River.”
The FBI, who assisted in the investigation, commented on the case.
“We work each day with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and other State agencies, creating effective and lasting relationships,” said Special Agent in Charge James Dennehy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Newark Field Office. We are always willing to support and assist when our partners ask. We will do everything within our purview to bring to justice anyone accused of wrongdoing.”
Norcross sat in the front row at his own indictment press conference
“The indictment unsealed today alleges that George Norcross has been running a criminal enterprise in this state for at least the last twelve years,” said Attorney General Platkin in announcing the charges earlier today. “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. That stops today. We must never accept politics and government – that is funded with tax dollars – to be weaponized against the people it serves. Today, we reaffirm that no one in our state is above the law.”
Norcross was among six people charged today:
- George E. Norcross, III, 68, of Palm Beach, Florida, is executive chairman of the insurance firm Conner, Strong & Buckelew and chairman of the board of trustees for Cooper Health.
- Philip A. Norcross, 61, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is an attorney and the managing shareholder and CEO of Parker McCay, a New Jersey law firm. Philip Norcross also serves on the board of Cooper Health and is the registered agent for the groups that own buildings in Camden that are the subject of the criminal allegations.
- William M. Tambussi, 66, of Brigantine, New Jersey, is an attorney and partner at the law firm of Brown and Connery. He is the long-time personal attorney to George Norcross. From 1989 to present he also served as counsel to the Camden County Democratic Committee – which George Norcross chaired from 1989 to 1995. Tambussi has also served as outside counsel to the City of Camden, the Camden Redevelopment Agency, Cooper Health, and Conner Strong.
- Dana L. Redd, 56, of Sicklerville, New Jersey, is currently the CEO of Camden Community Partnership, which was formerly Cooper’s Ferry Partnership. She previously served as a member of the Camden City Council, the New Jersey Senate, and from 2010 to 2018 was the Mayor of Camden, and she is alleged to have abused that position to benefit herself and the Norcross Enterprise.
- Sidney R. Brown, 67, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the CEO of NFI, a trucking and logistics company. He also serves as a member of the board at Cooper Health, and is a partner in the groups that own several of the Camden buildings at the center of the allegations.
- John J. O’Donnell, 61, of Newtown, Pennsylvania, has been in the executive leadership of The Michaels Organization, a residential development company, in a variety of roles including COO, President, and CEO. He is also a partner in the groups that own several of the Camden buildings at the center of the allegations. He has also served on the Board of Cooper’s Ferry Partnership at various times since 2018.
The indictment alleges that from as early as 2012 through the present, the Norcross Enterprise used its power and influence over government officials to craft legislation tailored to serve the interests of th
