A US federal court has sentenced Nigerian-born professor Nkechy Ezeh to 70 months in prison for stealing $1.4 million in taxpayer and donor funds meant for underprivileged preschool children in Michigan.
A Michigan district court has sentenced Nkechy Ezeh, founder and former executive director of Early Learning Neighbourhood Collaborative (ELNC), to 70 months in prison for fraud, according to TheCable.
Judge Hala Jarbou described Ezeh as “a fraud and a thief” who ran a “brazen and widespread” scheme targeting funds meant for vulnerable children. The court ordered her to repay $1.4 million to victims and $390,174 to the IRS.
Ezeh, an associate professor of education, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to wire fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion. The fraud, running from 2017 to 2023, caused ELNC to shut down, leaving 35 employees jobless and stripping needy children of critical services.
US Attorney Timothy VerHey 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.”
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