Philly Nonprofit Ex-CEO Loses Bid to Toss Fraud, Tax Convictions

The former CEO of Philadelphia-based nonprofits Universal Community Homes and Universal Education Cos. lost on Thursday his appeal to undo convictions for fraud, conspiracy, and tax evasion.

Abdur Rahim Islam had challenged the district court’s decision to permit the government to elicit testimony about the reason for a witness immunity agreement. He also challenged the district court’s sentencing calculation and the denial of his motion to dismiss on double jeopardy grounds. The US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejectedall of the arguments.

Islam—who the appeals court said had a “capacious conception” of business expenses—was convicted of one ...