Eliahu Ben Haim is a 58-year-old former Sephardic Orthodox rabbi and Long Branch, New Jersey resident who served as the principal rabbi of Congregation Ohel Yaacob in Deal. He became a central figure in the federal corruption and money laundering investigation known as Operation Bid Rig, the largest sting operation in New Jersey history. Ben Haim was arrested in July 2009 for his role in a sophisticated money laundering network that utilized religious charitable organizations (gemachs) to hide the origins of illicit funds. Between 2007 and 2009, he worked with a cooperating witness, Solomon Dwek, to launder approximately $1.5 million by depositing Dwek's checks—represented as proceeds from illegal activities—into bank accounts associated with several charitable organizations and returning physical cash to Dwek, minus a fee of approximately 10%. Ben Haim was the primary recipient of the laundered cash provided by Weiss's unlicensed money transmitting business. Following his arrest, Ben Haim pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy in 2010 and was sentenced in 2011 to five years in federal prison.