West Michigan Nonprofit Founder Receives 70 Months in Prison

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Dr. Nkechy Ezeh, the founder and former CEO of the Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison on May 13 2026.

The Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative operates early childhood education and family support programs in West Michigan. The organization has served hundreds of low-income families through center-based preschool, home visiting, and neighborhood-based collaborative services that prepare children for kindergarten and strengthen parental engagement.

The sentence marks the conclusion of the federal case against Ezeh. Prior to sentencing she remained free on bond; she must now report to the Bureau of Prisons to begin the term. Upon release she will face three years of supervised release, per the judgment issued by the district court.

The prison term triggers immediate operational consequences for the nonprofit. The board must appoint permanent leadership, complete any remaining federal audits tied to the case, and assure funders that governance controls meet grant requirements. Michigan’s Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential and federal partners that provided grants to the Collaborative will review compliance records before releasing future funds.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan handled the prosecution as part of its ongoing efforts to safeguard public funds allocated to nonprofit human-service providers.

This sentencing follows the Department of Justice’s announcement of the case resolution. The Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative was founded by Ezeh to deliver place-based early learning services on the west side of Grand Rapids. Federal sentencing data show terms in the 60-to-87-month range are typical for convictions involving nonprofit executives who misuse federal grant or program funds.