Once-Prominent NJ Rabbi Faces Prison Sentence

A once-prominent New Jersey rabbi who pleaded guilty in the state’s largest corruption case is due to be sentenced this week.

Rabbi Eliahu Ben Haim is the former leader of the synagogue Congregation Ohel Yaacob in Deal. He pleaded guilty in 2010 to a money laundering charge after admitting he used his network of religious charities to conceal more than $1 million in illegal proceeds.

Prosecutors say he laundered the money on behalf of a government informant Solomon Dwek, who cooperated with federal authorities after his arrest on bank fraud.

Dwek ultimately ensnared 46 defendants in the case, includingfive rabbis from New York and New Jersey who were arrested in a massive July 2009 round-up.

Ben Haim is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday in federal courtin Trenton.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)