Nigerian Professor Bags 70-Month Jail Term In U.S. Over $1.4m Donor Fund Theft

A United States district court in Michigan has sentenced Nkechy Ezeh, former executive director of Early Learning Neighbourhood Collaborative (ELNC), to 70 months in federal prison for orchestrating a $1.4 million fra¥d scheme involving funds meant for vulnerable preschool children.

The court found that Ezeh abused her position at the nonprofit, which was funded by U.S. government agencies and private donors to support children in underserved communities through services such as meals, transportation, and educational assistance.

Judge Hala Jarbou described her conduct as a “fraud and a thief,” saying she carried out a “brazen and widespread” scheme that diverted money intended for “the most vulnerable children” in West Michigan.

According to court records and a statement from U.S. authorities, Ezeh pleaded guilty in December 2025 to wire fraud, conspiracy, and tax evasion. She admitted that between 2017 and 2023, she worked with others, including co-conspirator Sharon Killebrew, to steal about $1.4 million from ELNC.

The court also ordered her to pay $1.4 million in restitution and an additional $390,174 to the Internal Revenue Service for tax evasion. She received a concurrent 60-month sentence for the tax offence.

Authorities said ELNC shut down in 2023 as a result of the fraud, leading to the loss of funding for several preschools in West Michigan and the layoff of 35 employees without notice.

U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey condemned the actions, stating that donor and taxpayer funds meant for low-income children were instead spent on personal gain, adding that the sentence reflected the seriousness of the offence.

Co-conspirator Sharon Killebrew was earlier sentenced to 54 months in prison for her role in the scheme.

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