A United States federal court has sentenced Nigerian-born academic Dr Nkechy Ezeh to 70 months in prison for masterminding a $1.4 million fraud scheme involving funds meant for disadvantaged preschool children.
The sentence was handed down by Chief US District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou, according to a statement released by the Office of the US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan.
In addition to the prison term, Ezeh received a concurrent 60-month sentence for tax evasion and was ordered to repay $1.4 million in restitution, alongside $390,174 to the Internal Revenue Service.
The 61-year-old, who resides in Kent County, Michigan, founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of the Early Learning Neighbourhood Collaborative, a nonprofit organisation focused on providing early childhood education services in underserved communities.
She also previously worked as an Associate Professor of Education and Director of the Early Childhood Education Program at Aquinas College
During sentencing, Judge Jarbou reportedly described Ezeh as “a fraud and a thief,” stating that the scheme was extensive and targeted resources intended for vulnerable children.
US Attorney Timothy VerHey condemned Ezeh’s actions, accusing her of diverting taxpayer and donor funds for personal benefit instead of supporting low-income families.
Court documents revealed that Ezeh allegedly spent the stolen money on luxury travel to destinations including Hawaii, Europe and Africa, as well as financing family events such as weddings.
Prosecutors also accused her of placing relatives on a fraudulent payroll system, allowing them to collect large sums despite doing little or no work.
Authorities further alleged that intermediaries were used to transfer part of the stolen funds to family members in Nigeria.
The nonprofit organisation received funding from US federal programmes, including Head Start and the Department of Education, alongside private donor contributions.
It reportedly provided meals, transportation and educational support services to children from low-income communities.
Investigators said the collapse of the organisation following the fraud scandal led to the closure of several preschool programmes and the loss of jobs for 35 employees in 2023.
A former bookkeeper at the organisation, Sharon Killebrew, had earlier been sentenced to 54 months in prison for her involvement in the scheme.
The case was investigated by the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation unit, while Assistant US Attorney Clay Stiffler prosecuted the matter.
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