B’nai B’rith chief Dennis Glick indicted on tax fraud

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Dennis Glick, who abruptly resigned as president of B’nai B’rith International, has been indicted on federal charges of tax fraud, JTA has learned.

Glick, a certified public accountant who held a variety of positions over the years at B’nai B’rith, including treasurer, was arraigned Thursday and released on $50,000 bail after entering a plea of not guilty. He was arrested March 23 on charges of falsifying tax returns for a client and lying about it to investigators. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison and a fine of $1.25 million.

The indictment by a Pennsylvania grand jury said Glick, of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., was "corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede the due administration of the Internal Revenue laws, and willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of false federal income tax returns," according to the U.S. Justice Department.

"We are bewildered that the government would file criminal charges under the facts of this case, and we fully expect Mr. Glick to be exonerated at trial," Glick’s lawyer, Henry Hockeimer, told JTA.

Glick, 67, had been president of the organization since December 2009 and has a 40-year history with B’nai B’rith.

The B’nai B’rith statement Thursday announcing his resignation only cited "personal reasons." It said that "B’nai B’rith thanks Glick for his many years of service and devotion to the organization."

Sharon Bender, a spokeswoman for B’nai B’rith, told JTA that "These were personal business matters unrelated to B’nai B’rith International."

According to the indictment, which is dated March 15, Glick falsified information on tax returns for a company called United Professional Plans Inc., which administers dental plans for labor union health and welfare funds. He also falsified tax returns for the company’s owner, Jonathon Felix, the indictment alleges.

Aside from falsifying returns covering four years, Glick lied to law enforcement officials in 2004 and 2005 who were investigating Felix’s returns, according to the charge sheet. Felix also was indicted.

Allan Jacobs of Lake Forest, Ill., the current chairman of the executive committee, was appointed to serve as B’nai B’rith’s interim president until a new one can be named at the organization’s next board meeting, in May.