NIGERIAN-BORN NONPROFIT CEO JAILED 70 MONTHS IN $1.4M US FRAUD CASE
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By: Balogun Ibrahim
A United States federal court has sentenced Nigerian-born former nonprofit chief executive, Dr. Nkechy Ezeh, to 70 months in prison for masterminding a $1.4 million fraud scheme involving taxpayer and donor funds intended for vulnerable preschool children.
The sentencing was announced on Wednesday in a statement by the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan.
Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou also imposed a concurrent 60-month sentence for tax evasion and ordered Ezeh to pay $1.4 million in restitution as well as $390,174 to the U.S. 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 services in underserved communities.
She also previously served as Associate Professor of Education and Director of the Early Childhood Education Programme at Aquinas College.
Court records show she was taken into federal custody immediately after sentencing.
During proceedings, Judge Jarbou described her as “a fraud and a thief,” saying the scheme was “brazen and widespread” and involved funds meant for some of the region’s most vulnerable children.
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Timothy VerHey, said Ezeh diverted funds meant for low-income children for personal enrichment.
He condemned her actions, saying she used both taxpayer and donor money for personal luxury instead of supporting children in need.
According to prosecutors, Ezeh spent the stolen funds on personal travel to destinations including Hawaii, Europe, and Africa, as well as a family wedding.
She was also accused of placing relatives on a “ghost payroll,” allowing them to receive large sums for little or no work, and of routing funds through intermediaries to family members in Nigeria.
The nonprofit, ELNC, which was funded through U.S. federal programmes such as Head Start and the Department of Education as well as private donations, provided meals, transport, and support services to children in low-income areas.
Following the fraud, the organisation shut down in 2023, resulting in the loss of services for several preschools and the termination of 35 employees.
A former bookkeeper, Sharon Killebrew, identified as a co-conspirator, had earlier been sentenced to 54 months in prison for her role in the scheme.
Authorities said the case underscores the abuse of public funds and its devastating impact on vulnerable communities, particularly children in low-income neighbourhoods.
The investigation was carried out by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the IRS Criminal Investigation unit, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Stiffler prosecuted the case.
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