A United States District Court in Michigan has sentenced Professor Nkechy Ezeh, former executive director of the Early Learning Neighbourhood Collaborative (ELNC), to 70 months in federal prison following her conviction in a fraud case involving approximately $1.4 million in nonprofit funds.
According to U.S. authorities, ELNC was a nonprofit organisation that received funding from government agencies and private donors to provide support services for preschool children in underserved communities, including meals, transportation, and educational assistance.
Court records show that Ezeh pleaded guilty in December 2025 to charges including wire fraud, conspiracy, and tax evasion. Prosecutors said the offences occurred between 2017 and 2023 and involved the misappropriation of funds from the organisation.
During sentencing, Judge Hala Jarbou criticised the scale and impact of the scheme, noting that the diverted funds were originally intended to support vulnerable children in West Michigan communities.
The court also ordered Ezeh to pay $1.4 million in restitution, along with an additional $390,174 to the Internal Revenue Service related to the tax evasion charge. She received a concurrent 60-month sentence for the tax-related offence.
Authorities stated that ELNC ceased operations in 2023 following the investigation, resulting in the loss of funding for several preschools and the dismissal of dozens of employees.
U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said the sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences and the impact the case had on donor-funded programmes intended for low-income children.
Meanwhile, Sharon Killebrew, identified by prosecutors as a co-conspirator in the case, had earlier been sentenced to 54 months in prison.
Credit: TheCable
