US Court Jails Nigerian 70 Months Over $1.4m Fraud

A United States federal court has sentenced Nigerian-born education administrator and former nonprofit executive, Nkechy Ezeh, to nearly six years in prison over a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme involving funds meant for vulnerable preschool children in underserved communities.

The sentencing was handed down by Chief US District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou, who ordered Ezeh to serve 70 months imprisonment for fraud-related offences and an additional concurrent 60-month sentence for tax evasion.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Office of the US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan.

The court also directed the 61-year-old to repay $1.4 million in restitution and an additional $390,174 to the Internal Revenue Service, IRS.

Ezeh, a resident of Kent County, Michigan, founded and previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative, a nonprofit organisation focused on early childhood education services in disadvantaged communities.

She also formerly worked as an Associate Professor of Education and Director of the Early Childhood Education Programme at Aquinas College.

Following sentencing, she was immediately remanded into federal custody.

During the proceedings, Judge Jarbou described the former nonprofit executive as “a fraud and a thief,” adding that the criminal scheme was “brazen and widespread.”

The judge noted that the diverted funds were originally intended to support vulnerable children and struggling families in West Michigan communities.

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 for personal gain.

“Nkechy Ezeh’s greed is beyond reprehensible,” VerHey said.

“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.

“The stolen money could have supported hundreds of West Michigan children and their families. Judge Jarbou’s sentence was perfectly appropriate.”

Court documents showed that Ezeh allegedly used the stolen funds to finance luxury travel to Hawaii, Europe and Africa, as well as expenses linked to a family wedding.

Prosecutors further alleged that she placed relatives on a “ghost payroll,” enabling them to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars for little or no work.

Investigators also accused her of using intermediaries to move part of the diverted funds to family members residing in Nigeria.