A United States federal court has sentenced Nigerian-born former nonprofit chief executive, Dr Nkechy Ezeh, to 70 months in prison after she was found guilty of orchestrating a $1.4 million fraud scheme involving taxpayer and donor funds meant for vulnerable preschool children.
The sentencing was announced on Wednesday in a press release by the Office of the US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan.
According to the court, Chief US District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou delivered the ruling and also imposed a concurrent 60-month sentence for tax evasion. In addition, Ezeh was ordered to pay $1.4 million in restitution and an additional $390,174 to the US Internal Revenue Service.
Ezeh, 61, of Kent County, Michigan, was the founder and former CEO of Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC), a West Michigan nonprofit that provided early childhood education and support services to children in underserved communities. She also previously served as an Associate Professor of Education and Director of Early Childhood Education at Aquinas College.
Court records revealed that the fraud scheme involved the diversion of funds intended for low-income families and children. Ezeh was taken into federal custody immediately after sentencing.
During the proceedings, Judge Jarbou strongly condemned her actions, describing her as “a fraud and a thief,” and characterizing the scheme as “brazen and widespread,” involving funds meant for some of the most vulnerable children in the region.
US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Timothy VerHey, also criticized the actions, stating that Ezeh diverted money meant for children in need for personal gain. He said the stolen funds were used for personal luxury expenses rather than their intended purpose.
According to prosecutors, the misused money was spent on personal travel to destinations including Hawaii, Europe, and Africa, as well as a family wedding. Investigators also alleged that she placed relatives on a “ghost payroll,” allowing them to receive large sums of money for little or no actual work. Authorities further stated that intermediaries were used to transfer funds to family members in Nigeria.
The nonprofit ELNC was funded through US federal programmes such as Head Start, the Department of Education, and private donors. It provided essential services including meals, transportation, and early learning support to children in low-income communities.
Following the discovery of the fraud, the organisation shut down in 2023, resulting in the loss of funding for several preschools and the layoff of about 35 employees.
A former bookkeeper at the organisation, Sharon Killebrew, was earlier sentenced to 54 months in prison for her role as a co-conspirator in the scheme.
Authorities say the case underscores the serious consequences of misusing federal grants and highlights the broader impact such actions can have on vulnerable communities, particularly children relying on early education support.
The investigation was carried out by the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation unit, while Assistant US Attorney Clay Stiffler led the prosecution.
