₦airaland Forum

Nkechy Ezeh, a former executive director at Early Learning Neighbourhood Collaborative (ELNC), has admitted to conspiring with others to defraud a US government-funded organisation.

Ezeh, an associate professor of education, pleaded guilty in a US district court in Michigan to charges of wire fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion.

According to the plea agreement, Ezeh 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, a Michigan-based nonprofit that received funding from the US department of health and human services and private donors.

Court records show that Sharon Killebrew, ELNC’s director of finance and administration, played a central role in the scheme by generating and approving fraudulent invoices at Ezeh’s direction.

“As part of the conspiracy, Defendant directed Sharon Killebrew… to generate approximately $470,100.00 in fictitious invoices for goods and services never received by ELNC and submit them for approval,” the court documents said.

The plea agreement further states that Killebrew kept a portion of the diverted funds, while “the remainder was transferred to Defendant, PONA Consulting (Defendant’s limited liability company), and other individuals at Defendant’s direction”.

Prosecutors said Ezeh also concealed conflicts of interest by failing to disclose her involvement in Early Years Coalition (EYC), another Michigan nonprofit linked to the scheme.

The court documents state that although EYC received more than $227,000 in grant payments, it “did not operate preschools in the six months it was operational,” and instead, Ezeh “caused EYC to pay $212,658.84 to herself, PONA Consulting, and other individuals and entities at her direction for work they did not perform”.

Ezeh further admitted to establishing Global Open Learning and Development Preschools (GOLD), another entity used in the scheme. According to prosecutors, GOLD was incorporated using stolen identities and was never registered as a tax-exempt organisation.

“GOLD was never registered as a nonprofit organisation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,” the court records said, adding that Ezeh caused GOLD to receive fraudulent payments for services never rendered.

In addition to the fraud scheme, Ezeh admitted that she deliberately failed to pay federal income taxes on proceeds derived from the conspiracy.

“Defendant knew that she had tax due and owing each year for tax years 2017–2022 and also knew that she was legally obligated to file truthful income tax returns,” the court documents said.

Prosecutors added that she “willfully attempted to evade and defeat income tax due and owing” by misappropriating funds and concealing income through multiple entities and associates.

The unpaid tax liability for the period was put at $390,174.

As part of the plea, Ezeh agreed to forfeit $1,193,900. She also agreed to pay full restitution to ELNC and the Internal Revenue Service, with final amounts to be determined at sentencing.

The wire fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, while the tax evasion charge carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison, in addition to fines and supervised release.

Kukutente23:
I'm sure we all know why this thread was opened by the Op

Kukutente23:
I'm sure we all know why this thread was opened by the Op

seunmsg:
Yeah, to showcase the bad eggs among us who are destroying the image of the country abroad. Tomorrow when Trump impose visa restriction on the country, these are the same folks who will blame the government instead of the bad eggs who are committing crimes all over the world.

seunmsg:
.. Let’s see how easy it is to run a plea bargain and get away with criminal proceeds since obidients told us it’s an easy process...

Racoon:
You are so shameless! All the alaigbo criminals that are involved in criminality of this kind are always left to their own fate. Not like your region. Tinubu himself, Gbajamilia, Dapo Abiodun, Oluwo of Iwo, engaged in criminality abroad all came back to played roles on the Nigerian political spheres.

seunmsg:
The crooked Ezeh should reach a plea bargain that allows her to just pay $400k back and keep the rest without any criminal indictment or prison. Let’s see how easy it is to run a plea bargain and get away with criminal proceeds since obidients told us it’s an easy process

seunmsg:
..So, tell your crooked Professor to run the same package now. Let’s see how easy it is to walk away from justice in the US. This shouldn’t get anyone upset.

DatNiggaDaz:
Imagine what Tinubu made you become. You have now fully entered the realm of tribalism. The urge to survive under the same party APC you said is the best thing to happen to Nigerians has exposed you for what you are.

Where are the achievement of Tinubu that you abused GEJ for and made you put your soul into his standing mandate of a certificate forger. A case of a terrible disaster

Racoon:
So terrible sharing a nation with these lots. So nauseating.

DatNiggaDaz:


You of all Laptop. Imagine what Tinubu made you become. You have now fully entered the realm of tribalism. The urge to survive under thesame party APC you said is the best thing to happen to Nigerians has exposed you for what you are.

Where are the achievement of Tinubu that you abused GEJ for and made you put your soul into his standing mandate of a certificateforger. A case of a terrible disaster

Racoon:
So terrible sharing a nation with these lots. So nauseating.

seunmsg:
What’s tribalism in asking your crooked professor to run the same scheme you’ve accused others of running? What’s wrong in keeping the same energy always?

DatNiggaDaz:


A case of a terrible disaster.

seunmsg:
The rest of us are actually tired of sharing the same country with folks like you.

seunmsg:
Yeah, to showcase the bad eggs among us who are destroying the image of the country abroad. Tomorrow when Trump impose visa restriction on the country, these are the same folks who will blame the government instead of the bad eggs who are committing crimes all over the world.

Kukutente23:
Are you saying bad eggs are the reason Trump is imposing visa ban on Nigerians?
I'm shocked to hear that!

Racoon:
Whao! Like that too. It will surely happen in a jiffy. So that regions can progress @ their own pace. Meanwhile, you are still an advocate of Oluwole certificate forgers and shady criminals in government. You are not tired of that one I know.

jmoore:
But you guys end up voting thieves that were deported as your governor and making them your kings.

Seems some love eating bad eggs.

FriendsAndFans:
Relax, those people actually don't identify as Nigerians. They share names but don't want to be referred to as Nigerians.
As a matter of fact,some of them have never been to Nigeria before and don't plan on it

seunmsg:
The president of my country graduated with a First Class degree in Accounting from one of the most prestigious university in USA. I’m not a supporter of a lying scoundrel whose best experience on how to tackle insecurity is by washing British Airways toilet.

seunmsg:
Yeah, to showcase the bad eggs among us who are destroying the image of the country abroad. Tomorrow when Trump impose visa restriction on the country, these are the same folks who will blame the government instead of the bad eggs who are committing crimes all over the world.