A United States federal court has sentenced a Nigerian-born former non-profit chief executive, Dr Nkechy Ezeh, to 70 months in prison for orchestrating a $1.4 million fraud scheme involving taxpayer and donor funds meant for vulnerable preschool children.
The sentencing was delivered by Chief US District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou, who 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 US Internal Revenue Service.
Court documents revealed that Ezeh, 61, of Kent County, Michigan, was the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC), a West Michigan-based non-profit organisation that provided early childhood services in underserved communities.
Prosecutors said the organisation was funded through US federal programmes, including Head Start, the Department of Education, and private donors, all intended to support low-income children with essential services such as meals, transportation, and educational support.
According to the court, Ezeh diverted funds meant for children’s welfare for personal use, including luxury travel to Hawaii, Europe, and Africa, as well as financing a family wedding.
The judge described the offence as a “brazen and widespread” fraud, stating that the scheme was carried out with disregard for the vulnerable children the funds were meant to support.
US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Timothy VerHey, condemned the act, saying the defendant’s actions deprived disadvantaged children of critical support services.
“She stole taxpayer and private-donor dollars meant for low-income children in our community. Instead of helping kids, she spent that money on herself,” VerHey said.
He added that the stolen funds could have supported hundreds of children and families in need, describing the sentence as appropriate for the severity of the offence.
Further revelations showed that Ezeh allegedly placed relatives on a “ghost payroll,” allowing them to receive large payments for little or no work.
Prosecutors also stated that she used intermediaries to transfer stolen funds to family members in Nigeria.
The non-profit organisation reportedly shut down in 2023 following the fraud investigation, leading to 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 in the scheme.
US authorities said the case highlights ongoing concerns about the misuse of public grants and its impact on vulnerable communities, particularly children in 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.
