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The chief executive officer of logistics firm NFI Industries on Wednesday denied any involvement in an alleged logistics racketeering scheme led by a New Jersey power broker accused of reaping millions in tax credits by using extortion to acquire waterfront property in the distressed city of Camden.

Sidney R. Brown, who was charged alongside George E. Norcross III of Conner Strong & Buckelew LLC and his brother, Parker McCay PA CEO Philip A. Norcross, and others, pled not guilty before Superior Court Judge Peter E. Warshaw to racketeering and other charges in a wide-ranging indictment targeting conduct spanning over a decade.

Logistics Racketeering Scheme Trial : Allegations and Charges

The indictment accuses the Norcrosses and co-defendants, including Brown & Connery LLP partner William M. Tambussi, who is George Norcross' longtime personal attorney; Dana L. Redd, the former mayor of Camden; and John J. O'Donnell, CEO of development company The Michaels Organization, of engaging in a logistics racketeering scheme. They pled not guilty last month.

Counsel for Brown, Lawrence S. Lustberg of Gibbons PC, maintained Brown's innocence in a statement to Law360.

"Sidney Brown pled not guilty today because he is not guilty. Sid has in fact done absolutely nothing wrong. He is proud to be an important part of the revitalization of Camden, through his investment in residential and commercial real estate, which has transformed the city's waterfront. It is just a matter of time before he is exonerated, and that time should be soon," Lustberg said.

Partnerships and Properties

Brown and O'Donnell are partners along with George Norcross in the groups that own the properties at issue, and Philip Norcross is the registered agent for the entities. The logistics racketeering scheme allegedly involved using their power and influence to help craft legislation to make it easier for projects in Camden to receive tax credits. They then, with help from the city and then-mayor Redd, strong-armed the acquisition of three waterfront properties through threats and coercion, according to the indictment.

One of the waterfront properties is now home to Triad1828, the tallest building along the Camden waterfront, housing the headquarters of Norcross' insurance brokerage, as well as NFI and The Michaels Organization. The other property is the site of 11 Cooper, a residential development owned by a Norcross, Brown, and O'Donnell entity, prosecutors said.

Logistics Racketeering Scheme Trial : Accusations of Unlawful Means

Prosecutors allege that in addition to obtaining the development rights to the properties through unlawful means, entities owned by Norcross, Brown, and O'Donnell received millions in tax credits that they have since started to sell.

Companies and organizations tied to the defendants were previously among the targets in a probe of oversight shortfalls in a state corporate tax break program that handed out $11 billion in incentives over the span of a decade. Norcross unsuccessfully sued to challenge Gov. Phil Murphy's authority to launch the investigation.

Legal Representation

The state is represented by Michael Breslin, Andrew Wellbrock, Michael Grillo, Adam Klein, and Amanda Nini of the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General.

George Norcross is represented by Michael Critchley Sr. of Critchley Kinum & Luria LLC. Philip Norcross is represented by Kevin Marino of Marino Tortorella & Boyle PC. William Tambussi is represented by Jeffrey S. Chiesa of Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC. Dana Redd is represented by Henry Klingeman of Klingeman Cerimele Attorneys. John O'Donnell is represented by Gerald Krovatin of Krovatin Nau LLC. Sidney Brown is represented by Lawrence S. Lustberg and Noel L. Hillman of Gibbons PC.