A Nigerian professor US fraud sentencing case has ended with a United States federal court sentencing former nonprofit executive Dr Nkechy Ezeh to 70 months in prison over a $1.4 million fraud scheme involving funds meant for vulnerable preschool children.
The Nigerian professor US fraud sentencing ruling was delivered by Chief US District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou, who also imposed a concurrent 60-month sentence for tax evasion. In addition, the court ordered Ezeh to pay $1.4 million in restitution and $390,174 to the US Internal Revenue Service.
Ezeh, 61, of Kent County, Michigan, founded the Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC), a nonprofit focused on early childhood education in underserved communities. She also previously served as an Associate Professor of Education and Director of Early Childhood Education at Aquinas College.
Court documents revealed that she misused federal and donor funds intended for low-income children, redirecting them for personal expenses. Prosecutors said she funded luxury travel to destinations including Hawaii, Europe, and Africa, and also paid for a family wedding using stolen money.
She was also accused of running a “ghost payroll” system in which relatives were listed as employees and paid large sums for little or no work. Investigators further stated that she used intermediaries to transfer stolen funds to family members in Nigeria.
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Judge Jarbou described the scheme as “brazen and widespread,” calling Ezeh “a fraud and a thief,” while prosecutors stressed that the stolen funds could have supported hundreds of vulnerable children in West Michigan.
US Attorney Timothy VerHey condemned the conduct, saying taxpayer and donor money meant for children was instead diverted for personal enrichment. The nonprofit ultimately shut down in 2023, resulting in job losses and disruption of childcare services.
A co-conspirator, Sharon Killebrew, previously received a 54-month prison sentence for her role in the scheme.
Authorities say the case highlights serious abuse of federal grant systems and its impact on vulnerable communities.
