A married couple who took over Pierce County’s oldest charity appear to be profiting from it in ways that raise questions of conflicts of interest and possible violations of federal tax law.

The transformation of Gateways for Youth and Families began while Jamie Beletz served as interim president. He led a reorganization that included forcing out employees, renegotiating Gateways’ contract with Savers Inc. (parent company of Value Village) and moving administrative offices from Tacoma to the Jessie Dyslin Ranch property in Summit.

Jamie Beletz and Mel Curtiss probably saved Gateways for Youth and Families from failure.

Jamie Beletz might have been known as a political operator when he took over the Pierce County charity Gateways for Youth and Families, but he also had a track record of running nonprofit organizations.