By Peter Omopo
A Nigerian-born former nonprofit executive, Dr. Nkechy Ezeh, has been sentenced to 70 months imprisonment by a United States federal court for masterminding a $1.4 million fraud scheme involving funds meant for vulnerable preschool children.
The sentence was delivered by Chief US District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou, according to a statement issued by the Office of the US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan on Wednesday.
Ezeh, 61, a resident of Kent County, Michigan, was also handed a concurrent 60-month sentence for tax evasion. The court further ordered her to pay $1.4 million in restitution and an additional $390,174 to the United States Internal Revenue Service.
She was immediately remanded into federal custody after the sentencing.
Ezeh was the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of the Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative, a nonprofit organisation in West Michigan 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.
During the proceedings, Judge Jarbou described Ezeh as “a fraud and a thief,” adding that the fraudulent operation was “brazen and widespread” and involved funds intended for some of the region’s most vulnerable children.
Reacting to the judgment, US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Timothy VerHey, condemned Ezeh’s actions, accusing her of diverting taxpayer and donor funds meant for low-income children for personal gain.
According to prosecutors, Ezeh used the stolen funds to finance personal expenses, including trips to Hawaii, Europe and Africa, as well as a family wedding.
Investigators also alleged that she placed several relatives on a “ghost payroll,” enabling them to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars for little or no work. Authorities further claimed she used intermediaries to transfer stolen funds to family members in Nigeria.
Court filings revealed that the nonprofit organisation received funding from US federal programmes, including Head Start, the Department of Education and private donors. The organisation provided meals, transportation and support services to children in low-income communities.
The fraud reportedly led to the closure of the nonprofit in 2023, resulting in the loss of funding for several preschools and the dismissal of 35 employees.
A former bookkeeper at the organisation, Sharon Killebrew, had earlier been sentenced to 54 months imprisonment for her role in the scheme.
US authorities said the case highlights the damaging impact of the misuse of federal grants on vulnerable communities, especially children from low-income neighbourhoods.
The investigation was conducted by the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General alongside the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation unit, while Assistant US Attorney Clay Stiffler prosecuted the case.
