Nigerian-born Professor To Spend 70 Months In US Jail Over $1.4m  Donor Fund Theft

 

 

 

By Rotela Oguns

 

The long arm of the law has caught up with a Nigerian-born professor identified as Nkechy Ezeh in the far away United States for  “orchestrating a fraud scheme that stole $1.4 million in taxpayer and donor money intended for vulnerable preschool children”.

 

Ezeh is said to be a former Executive Director at  Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC).

 

While delivering judgement on Ezeh’s case the Michigan district judge, Hala Jarbou, sentenced the accused to 70 months in prison.

 

Jarbou further described Ezeh as  “a fraud and a thief ” who engaged in “brazen and widespread” scheme to steal money meant for “most vulnerable children” in West Michigan.

 

According to her profile, Ezeh, who is an associate professor of education, is the founder of ELNC, a non-profit organisation funded by the US department of health, department of education, and private donors to provide meals, transportation, funding, advocacy, and other services to children in underserved communities.

 

A statement released by the US government revealed that the trial judge ordered Ezeh to pay $1.4 million in restitution to the victims of the fraud and $390,174 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

 

 

The judge also sentenced her to a concurrent prison term of 60 months for evading income taxes.

 

 

Ezeh had earlier pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud conspiracy and tax evasion during her trial.

 

She admitted to the two criminal charges in December 2025.

 

According to the plea agreement, Ezeh admitted that “from at least 2017 through 2023, she conspired with Sharon Killebrew and others to devise a scheme to defraud and obtain $1,400,000” from ELNC.

 

Highlighting the far-reaching consequence of Ezeh’s financial malfeasance, the US  government said ELNC closed shop in 2023 on account of the fraud, as many West Michigan preschools lost funding, and needy children lost valuable resources.

 

The non-profit organisation also laid off its 35 employees without notice.

 

Sharon Killebrew, ELNC’s former bookkeeper and Ezeh’s co-conspirator, was sentenced in November 2025 to 54 months in federal prison for her role in the scheme.

 

Commenting on the judgment, Timothy VerHey, US attorney for western district of Michigan, said Ezeh spent the donor funds meant for children on herself instead of helping kids.

 

 

 

“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.”