A U.S. federal courtroom has sentenced Dr. Nkesie Eze, a former Nigerian-born nonprofit CEO, to 70 months in jail for orchestrating a $1.4 million fraud scheme involving taxpayers and donations for weak preschool kids.
The sentence was introduced Wednesday in a press launch from the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Western District of Michigan.
The judgment, handed down by Chief U.S. District Choose Hala Y. Jarbu, concurrently sentenced him to 60 months in jail for tax evasion and ordered Mr. Eze to pay $1.4 million in restitution and $390,174 to the Inner Income Service.
Eze, 61, of Kent County, Michigan, is the founder and former CEO of the Early Studying Neighborhood Collaborative, a West Michigan nonprofit that gives early childhood companies in underserved communities.
She can also be a former affiliate professor of schooling and director of the early childhood schooling program at Aquinas Faculty.
She was taken into federal custody instantly after her sentencing.
In the course of the trial, Choose Jarboo described Mr Eze as a “fraud and thief”, including that the scheme was “brazen and far-reaching” and concerned funds aimed toward a few of the most weak kids in the neighborhood.
U.S. Lawyer Timothy Verhey of the Western District of Michigan stated Mr. Eze personally misappropriated funds meant for low-income kids.
“Nkechi Eze’s greed is past reproach.
“She stole taxpayer and personal donor cash meant for low-income kids in our neighborhood. As an alternative of serving to the kids, she used that cash for herself.
“The stolen cash might have fed lots of of West Michigan kids and their households. Choose Jarbue’s sentence was fully applicable,” Verhey stated.
In keeping with courtroom filings, Eze used the stolen funds to pay for private bills, together with journeys to Hawaii, Europe and Africa, and a household wedding ceremony.
Prosecutors additionally stated she enrolled her family on “ghost paychecks” so they might obtain lots of of 1000’s of {dollars} for little or no work.
She was additionally accused of utilizing intermediaries to switch the stolen funds to her household in Nigeria.
The nonprofit ELNC acquired funding from U.S. federal packages together with Head Begin, the Division of Schooling, and personal donors. We supplied meals, transportation, and assist companies to kids in low-income areas.
Following the fraud scandal, ELNC closed in 2023, ensuing within the lack of funding for a number of preschools and the firing of 35 workers.
Sharon Killebrew, a former bookkeeper for the group who was recognized as a co-conspirator, was beforehand sentenced to 54 months in jail for her function within the scheme.
U.S. authorities stated the case highlights the abuse of federal support and its affect on weak communities, particularly kids in low-income areas.
The investigation was carried out by the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers Workplace of Inspector Normal and the Inner Income Service, Legal Investigation Division, and Assistant U.S. Lawyer Clay Stiffler prosecuted the case.
