< img src="https://edugist.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/FB_IMG_1778748212371.jpg"alt =" "> A United States district court in Michigan has sentenced Nigerian-born education teacher, Nkechy Ezeh, to 70 months jail time for managing a $1.4 million fraud scheme involving taxpayer and donor funds implied for susceptible preschool children.
The sentencing was bied far by Hala Jarbou, who explained Ezeh as “a fraud and a burglar” whose actions totaled up to a “brazen and widespread” theft of resources planned for disadvantaged kids in West Michigan.
Ezeh, an associate professor of education and creator of the Early Knowing Neighbourhood Collaborative, was accused of diverting funds offered by the US Department of Health, Department of Education and personal donors for personal use.
According to a statement launched by US authorities, the court also purchased Ezeh to pay $1.4 million in restitution to victims of the scams and an extra $390,174 to the Irs (IRS) over tax-related offences.
The judge even more imposed a concurrent 60-month jail sentence for tax evasion.
Ezeh had actually pleaded guilty in December 2025 to charges verging on wire scams, conspiracy and tax evasion. Court documents revealed that in between 2017 and 2023, she conspired with Sharon Killebrew and others to defraud the organisation of approximately $1.4 million.
Authorities stated the monetary misbehavior required ELNC to shut down operations in 2023, leaving numerous preschools in West Michigan without funding and denying many low-income children of important educational assistance and well-being services.
The collapse of the organisation also led to the abrupt layoff of 35 employees without prior notice.
Killebrew, who served as the organisation’s accountant, had earlier been sentenced in November 2025 to 54 months in federal jail for her participation in the scheme.
Responding to the judgment, Timothy VerHey condemned Ezeh’s actions, stating the stolen funds might have changed the lives of hundreds of children and families.
“Nkechy Ezeh’s greed is beyond wicked,” VerHey stated.
“She took taxpayer and private-donor dollars implied for low-income kids in our community. Instead of helping kids, she spent that money on herself.
“The taken money might have supported hundreds of West Michigan children and their households. Judge Jarbou’s sentence was completely proper.”