Accra: Grand Rapids A United States federal court has sentenced Professor Nkechy Ezeh, a former nonprofit chief executive originally from Nigeria, to 70 months in prison for orchestrating a $1.4 million fraud scheme. The funds, meant for vulnerable preschool children, were diverted for personal use.
According to Ghana Web, the sentencing was announced by the Office of the US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan. Chief US District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou delivered the sentence, which also includes a concurrent 60-month sentence for tax evasion. Ezeh was ordered to pay $1.4 million in restitution and $390,174 to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
Ezeh, 61, was the founder and former CEO of Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC), a West Michigan nonprofit providing early childhood services in underserved communities. She also served as an Associate Professor of Education and Director of the Early Childhood Education Programme at Aquinas College. Following her sentencing, Ezeh was immediately taken into federal custody.
During the proceedings, Judge Jarbou described Ezeh as 'a fraud and a thief,' emphasizing the 'brazen and widespread' nature of the scheme that involved funds intended for some of the region's most vulnerable children. US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Timothy VerHey, stated that Ezeh diverted money meant for low-income children for personal use, describing her actions as beyond reprehensible.
The nonprofit ELNC, funded by US federal programs including Head Start, the Department of Education, and private donors, provided essential services to children in low-income communities. The fraud led to the shutdown of ELNC in 2023, resulting in the loss of funding for several preschools and the layoff of 35 employees.
A former bookkeeper at the organization, Sharon Killebrew, was identified as a co-conspirator and sentenced to 54 months in prison for her role in the scheme. US authorities emphasized the case as a significant example of the abuse of federal grants and its detrimental impact on vulnerable communities, especially children in low-income neighborhoods.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation unit, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Stiffler prosecuting the case.