A United States federal court has sentenced Nigerian-born former nonprofit executive, Dr Nkechy Ezeh, to 70 months in prison for masterminding a $1.4 million fraud scheme involving funds meant for vulnerable preschool children.
The sentence was handed down by Chief US District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou in Michigan, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Office of the US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan.
Ezeh, 61, founder and former Chief Executive Officer of the Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC), was convicted for diverting taxpayer and donor funds for personal use while leading the nonprofit organisation, which provided early childhood education and support services to underserved communities in West Michigan.
The court also imposed a concurrent 60-month sentence for tax evasion and ordered her to pay $1.4 million in restitution, alongside $390,174 to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Judge Jarbou described Ezeh as “a fraud and a thief,” condemning the scheme as “brazen and widespread,” particularly because it involved funds intended to support disadvantaged children.
US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Timothy VerHey, said Ezeh abused public trust by diverting resources meant for struggling families.
“Nkechy Ezeh’s greed is beyond reprehensible. She stole taxpayer and donor dollars meant for low-income children and used the money on herself,” VerHey said.
Court documents revealed that Ezeh spent the stolen funds on luxury travel to Hawaii, Europe, and Africa, as well as personal family expenses, including a wedding.
Prosecutors further disclosed that she placed relatives on a “ghost payroll,” allowing them to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars for little or no work. Authorities also accused her of using intermediaries to transfer stolen funds to family members in Nigeria.
The ELNC received funding from several US federal programmes, including Head Start and the Department of Education, alongside private donations. The organisation provided meals, transportation, and educational support for children in low-income communities.
Following the fraud scandal, ELNC shut down in 2023, resulting in the loss of preschool funding and the dismissal of 35 employees.
A former ELNC bookkeeper and co-conspirator, Sharon Killebrew, had earlier been sentenced to 54 months in prison for her role in the scheme.
US authorities said the case underscores the devastating impact of fraud involving public funds intended for vulnerable communities.
