A US court has sentenced a Nigerian-born former nonprofit chief executive, Dr. Nkechy Ezeh, to 70 months in prison for orchestrating a $1.4 million fraud scheme involving taxpayer and donor funds meant for vulnerable preschool children.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan announced the sentence in a press release on Wednesday.
Chief US District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou handed the sentencing, which also included a concurrent 60-month sentence for tax evasion and an order for Ezeh to pay $1.4 million in restitution and $390,174 to the IRS.
Ezeh, 61, of Kent County, Michigan, was the founder and former CEO of the Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative, a West Michigan charity that offered early childhood programs to neglected communities.
She was previously an associate professor of education and director of the early childhood education program at Aquinas College.
She was immediately remanded to federal jail following her sentencing.
During the proceedings, Judge Jarbou branded Ezeh as “a fraud and a thief,” adding that the plan was “brazen and widespread” and involved cash intended for some of the region’s most needy children.
Timothy VerHey, US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, claims Ezeh stole funds intended for low-income children for personal use.
“Nkechy Ezeh’s greed is beyond reprehensible.
“She stole taxpayer and private-donor dollars meant for low-income children in our community. Instead of helping kids, she spent that money on herself.
“The stolen money could have supported hundreds of West Michigan children and their families. Judge Jarbou’s sentence was perfectly appropriate,” VerHey said.
According to court documents, Ezeh used stolen money to pay for personal costs, such as trips to Hawaii, Europe, and Africa, as well as a family wedding.
Prosecutors also claimed she put relatives on a “ghost payroll,” which allowed them to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars for little or no work.
She was further accused of utilizing intermediaries to transfer stolen funds to family members in Nigeria.
The organization, ELNC, received funding from US public programs such as Head Start, the Department of Education, and individual donations. It provided meals, transportation, and assistance to children in low-income neighborhoods.
Following the scam, ELNC ceased operations in 2023, resulting in the loss of funding for multiple preschools and the dismissal of 35 personnel.
Sharon Killebrew, a former bookkeeper at the group who was named as a co-conspirator, was previously sentenced to 54 months in jail for her involvement in the conspiracy.
According to US officials, the case shows the abuse of federal subsidies and its impact on vulnerable groups, particularly children living in low-income neighborhoods.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation unit conducted the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Stiffler prosecuting the case.
