United States federal court has sentenced a Nigerian-born former Associate Professor of Education and former nonprofit chief executive, Dr Nkechy Ezeh, to 70 months in prison for orchestrating a $1.4 million fraud scheme involving taxpayer and donor funds meant for vulnerable preschool children.
The sentencing was announced in a press release on Wednesday by the Office of the US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan.
Delivered by Chief US District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou, the sentencing also imposed a concurrent 60-month imprisonment for tax evasion and ordered Ezeh to pay $1.4 million in restitution and $390,174 to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
Ezeh, 61, of Kent County, Michigan, was the founder and former CEO of Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative, a West Michigan nonprofit that provided early childhood services in underserved communities.
The convict is also a former Associate Professor of Education and Director of Early Childhood Education Program at Aquinas College.
She was immediately remanded into federal custody after sentencing.
During the proceedings, Judge Jarbou described Ezeh as “a fraud and a thief,” adding that the scheme was “brazen and widespread,” and involved funds intended for some of the region’s most vulnerable children.
US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Timothy VerHey, said Ezeh diverted money meant for low-income children for personal use.
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.
“The stolen money could have supported hundreds of West Michigan children and their families. Judge Jarbou’s sentence was perfectly appropriate.”