Dr. Nkechy Ezeh, the founder and former CEO of the Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative, has been sentenced to 70 months in prison for a $1.4 million fraud scheme involving funds intended for vulnerable preschool children.
Key points
- Judge Hala Y. Jarbou also imposed a concurrent 60-month sentence for tax evasion and ordered $1.4 million in restitution.
- Ezeh was accused of using stolen funds for personal travel and placing relatives on a ghost payroll.
- The Michigan-based nonprofit, which provided services to underserved communities, shut down in 2023 following the fraud.
- A former bookkeeper at the organization, Sharon Killebrew, was previously sentenced to 54 months for her role in the scheme.
Why it matters
The case highlights the significant impact of federal grant abuse on vulnerable communities and the loss of essential services for low-income families.
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