Corruption rocks Ocean County insurance firm that provides liability insurance for most Ocean County towns
TOMS RIVER, NJ—Toms River Mayor Dan Rodrick recently announced the termination of the township’s long-term agreement with Connor Strong and Buckalew, the municipal health insurance provider. This move was intended to save the township millions of dollars annually. Unbeknownst to Mayor Rodrick at the time, the broker he dismissed was under state and federal investigation for political corruption, racketeering, extortion, and operating a criminal enterprise.
Connor Strong and Buckalew, located in Camden County with an office in Downtown Toms River, is owned and operated by South Jersey political figures George Norcross and Joe Buckalew. Norcross is considered New Jersey’s most powerful unelected political official and a significant Democratic party powerbroker. Buckalew, a former chairman of the Ocean County GOP, remains a major political influence in the county. The two men are close friends and business partners who vacation together annually in Florida.
Rodrick declined to comment on the criminal matter when asked about the indictment.
Buckalew and Norcross also operate the Joint Insurance Fund (JIF), a municipal insurance liability fund that nearly every municipality in Ocean County participates in. While the actual firm has not yet been accused of any wrongdoing, its political influence and contracts are derived from the power structure entrenched in local politics.
“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.”
On June 17, 2024, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office indicted George Norcross. Attorney General Matt Platkin announced the indictment against Norcross and five other defendants following a lengthy investigation into the powerful Democrat’s business affairs.
Norcross has been charged with multiple counts of racketeering and operating a criminal enterprise. The charges come after an extensive investigation into his activities in South Jersey and elsewhere. Mayor Rodrick confirmed that one of his first actions as mayor was to sever ties with Norcross’ firm, which had been entrenched in the township for decades and rehired each year during former Mayor Maurice Hill’s term.
The state charged Norcross with various counts of financial facilitation, misconduct by a corporate official, official misconduct, and conspiring to commit theft by extortion, criminal coercion, financial facilitation, and official misconduct. Rodrick declined to comment on the criminal matter, stating, “I don’t know about that or what’s going on, but we switched providers based only on a financial decision for the township. 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, which assisted in the investigation, emphasized their collaboration with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and other state agencies. Special Agent in Charge James Dennehy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Newark Field Office stated, “We work each day with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and other state agencies, creating effective and lasting relationships. 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.”
At his own indictment press conference, Norcross was present in the front row. Attorney General Platkin announced, “The indictment unsealed today alleges that George Norcross has been running a criminal enterprise in this state for at least the last twelve years. 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.”
The indictment includes charges against the following individuals:
- George E. Norcross, III, 68, of Palm Beach, Florida, executive chairman of the insurance firm Connor Strong & Buckalew and chairman of the board of trustees for Cooper Health.
- Philip A. Norcross, 61, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, attorney and managing shareholder and CEO of Parker McCay, a New Jersey law firm.
- William M. Tambussi, 66, of Brigantine, New Jersey, attorney and partner at Brown and Connery, long-time personal attorney to George Norcross.
- Dana L. Redd, 56, of Sicklerville, New Jersey, CEO of Camden Community Partnership, former member of the Camden City Council, New Jersey Senate, and Mayor of Camden.
- Sidney R. Brown, 67, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, CEO of NFI, a trucking and logistics company, and board member at Cooper Health.
- John J. O’Donnell, 61, of Newtown, Pennsylvania, executive leadership member of The Michaels Organization, a residential development company.
The indictment alleges that from as early as 2012, the Norcross Enterprise used its power and influence over government officials to craft legislation tailored to serve the interests of the enterprise. With the cooperation of then-Camden Mayor Dana Redd and other officials, they used parts of the city’s government to aid the enterprise in acquiring property and property rights for itself and others through coercion, extortion, and other criminal acts. All six defendants are charged with first-degree racketeering.