MICHIGAN, United States, May 2026 — A United States District Court in Michigan has sentenced the former Executive Director of the Early Learning Neighbourhood Collaborative (ELNC), Nkechy Ezeh, to 70 months in prison over a fraud scheme involving $1.4 million in taxpayer and donor funds meant for preschool children.
District Judge Hala Jarbou described Ezeh as “a fraud and a thief” who carried out a “brazen and widespread” scheme that diverted money intended for vulnerable children in West Michigan.
Okay News reports that the court also ordered Ezeh to pay $1.4 million in restitution to victims and an additional $390,174 to the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The judge further imposed a concurrent prison sentence of 60 months for tax evasion.
Ezeh, an associate professor of education and founder of ELNC, previously oversaw the non-profit organisation, which received funding from the US Department of Health, the US Department of Education, and private donors to support underserved children through meals, transportation, advocacy, and educational services.
In December 2025, Ezeh pleaded guilty to charges including wire fraud, conspiracy, and tax evasion.
According to the plea agreement, she 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.
The US government said the organisation shut down in 2023 because of the fraud, resulting in the loss of funding for several preschools in West Michigan and the termination of services for vulnerable children.
The closure also led to the dismissal of the organisation’s 35 employees without notice.
Sharon Killebrew, ELNC’s former bookkeeper and Ezeh’s co-conspirator, was earlier sentenced in November 2025 to 54 months in federal prison for her role in the fraud scheme.
Commenting on the judgment, Timothy VerHey, US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, accused Ezeh of diverting funds meant for children for personal use.
“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.”
