A United States federal court has sentenced a Nigerian-born academic and former nonprofit executive, Dr Nkechy Ezeh, to 70 months imprisonment for masterminding a $1.4m fraud scheme involving funds meant for vulnerable preschool children.
The sentence was handed down by Chief US District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou at a federal court in Michigan, according to a statement released on Wednesday by the Office of the US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan.
Apart from the prison term, the court also imposed a concurrent 60-month sentence for tax evasion and ordered Ezeh to repay $1.4m in restitution alongside $390,174 to the Internal Revenue Service.
Ezeh, 61, was the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of the Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative, a nonprofit organisation that provided educational and social support services for children in low-income communities across West Michigan.
The convict, who once served as an Associate Professor of Education and Director of Early Childhood Education Programme at Aquinas College, was immediately taken into federal custody after sentencing.
During the proceedings, Judge Jarbou reportedly described Ezeh as “a fraud and a thief,” saying the fraudulent operation was extensive and targeted resources meant for some of the most disadvantaged children in the region.
The US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Timothy VerHey, condemned Ezeh’s actions, accusing her of diverting public and donor funds for personal luxury.
He said, “Nkechy Ezeh’s greed is beyond reprehensible. 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.”
Investigators said Ezeh used the stolen funds to sponsor lavish trips to Hawaii, Europe and Africa, as well as finance a family wedding. Prosecutors also alleged that she placed relatives on a “ghost payroll,” enabling them to receive large sums for little or no work.
Court documents further revealed that some of the diverted funds were transferred through intermediaries to family members in Nigeria.
The nonprofit organisation, funded through US federal programmes and private donations, shut down in 2023 following the discovery of the fraud.
The closure reportedly affected several preschools and led to the loss of jobs for about 35 employees.
Authorities added that a former bookkeeper at the organisation, Sharon Killebrew, had earlier been sentenced to 54 months imprisonment for her involvement in the scheme.
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.