The former CEO of the Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC) pleaded guilty to embezzling over $1 million on Wednesday.
Dr. Nkechy Ekere Ezeh, former ELNC CEO, appeared in court to file the plea. She had agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and tax evasion back in December.
As part of Ezeh’s plea agreement, she will also pay $1.4 million in restitution, pay nearly $400,000 in back taxes and face possible prison time for the two charges.
ELNC was a Grand Rapids-based nonprofit organization that provided education to children in low-income families or challenging circumstances.
The nonprofit closed in 2023 after Ezeh and former Director of Finance and Administration Sharon Killebrew were accused of embezzling more than $2.5 million combined over several years.
Former President and CEO of ELNC Amy DeLeeuw issued a statement about Ezeh’s plea:
“As the president and treasurer of ELNC , I was disappointed by Nkechy Ezeh’s failure to meaningfully articulate the nature and scope of her criminal misconduct during her change of plea hearing today. Her theft of millions of dollars intended for the most vulnerable of children was brazen, all-encompassing and unconscionable. To date, Nkechy has made no effort to repay any of the millions of dollars she stole from ELNC.
I trust Nkechy’s demeanor at today’s hearing did not go unnoticed by Chief Judge Hala Jarbou. I and the board will have more to say in our victim impact statement and look forward to her sentencing hearing on May 13.”
Last year, Killebrew pled guilty to two charges and was sentenced to 54 months in prison, ordered to pay restitution of over $1.4 million and will be subject to a supervised release of two years following her incarceration.
The ELNC paid for children to have breakfast, lunch and transportation to and from preschool, court documents stated. The organization helped more than 400 children and their families in the last reporting year. The court documents also revealed that ELNC helped nearly 8,000 children during its lifetime.
Ezeh will be sentenced on Wednesday, May 13.
