The Digest:
A United States federal court has sentenced Nigerian-born former nonprofit CEO Dr Nkechy Ezeh to 70 months in prison for orchestrating a 1.4 million fraud scheme involving taxpayer and donor funds meant for vulnerable preschool children. The sentencing was announced by the US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan. Judge HalaY.Jarbou described Ezeh as "a fraud and a thief." Ezeh was also ordered to pay 1.4 million for a fraud scheme involving taxpayer and donor funds meant for vulnerable preschool children.
Key Points:
- Ezeh stole money meant for low-income children to fund travel to Hawaii, Europe, Africa, and a family wedding.
- She placed relatives on a "ghost payroll" for hundreds of thousands of dollars with little or no work.
- Her nonprofit, ELNC, shut down in 2023, leading to the loss of funding for preschools and 35 layoffs.
- The case highlights how federal grants intended for vulnerable communities can be abused.
- A co-conspirator bookkeeper was earlier sentenced to 54 months in prison
