Former city detective's conviction upheld

By Chris Sykes, Staff Writer
An appeal of convictions for a former East Orange police officer and his wife were rejected last week by an appellate court.
A three-judge panel of the Appellate Division upheld the conviction of former city Detective Norman Price, 53, and his wife, Natasha McRae, 40, both of Bedminster. Both had been convicted in 2006 of profiting from the creation of “shell” businesses through which the Police Department purchased equipment.
During the time the purchases occurred, Price was assigned to the department’s Communications Center and was responsible for making recommendations regarding certain businesses that could provide equipment to the center,” said Carolyn Murray, acting Essex County prosecutor. The city had allocated $2 million for the modernization of the center.
“Price and his wife were found guilty of setting up ‘shell’ or ‘dummy’ corporations to bilk the City of East Orange of $106,429 by overcharging the city for furniture and communications equipment,” Murray said.
Price and McRae were found guilty in May 2006 on charges which included money laundering, official misconduct, false contract payment claims, theft by deception and unlawful business transactions. While both attended each day of the trial, the verdict was delayed when Price was admitted into a Philadelphia hospital after he experienced chest pains, a fact investigators confirmed.
They did not return to court after Price checked himself out of the hospital, and a search for the pair ensued after Superior Court Judge Thomas Vena signed an arrest warrant following the verdict announcement. Price was arrested in Arizona a month later; McRae surrendered in Newark in July 2006.
Price was sentenced to 20 years in prison, McRae to 14 years. Both have since been paroled.
Price and McRae argued in their appeal that they had been denied a fair trial. They alleged prosecutorial misconduct and the issuance of excessive sentences.
In their Dec. 6 ruling, however, the panel upheld the convictions and the sentences.
“The proofs of guilt were overwhelming, the trial was fair and the punishment imposed justified,” the panel stated in its decision.
“We worked extremely hard on this case and it is gratifying to have the Appellate Division affirm the convictions and sentences on all counts,” said Paul J. Bradley, the assistant prosecutor who tried the case. “With a brazen and callous disregard, Price and his wife violated the public trust.”
Managing Editor John Zucal contributed to this article.