A United States district court in Michigan has sentenced Nkechy Ezeh, a 61-year-old Nigerian professor, to 70 months in federal prison for orchestrating a fraud scheme involving funds meant for vulnerable preschool children.

According to a statement issued by United States Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said the scheme diverted about $1.4 million in taxpayer and donor money intended to support early childhood education programmes.

Ezeh, a resident of Kent County, Michigan, also received a concurrent 60-month prison sentence for tax evasion.

Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou described the scheme as “brazen and widespread,” stating that the defendant stole funds intended for some of West Michigan’s most vulnerable children.

The court further ordered Ezeh to pay $1.4 million in restitution to victims and an additional $390,174 to the Internal Revenue Service. She was also remanded immediately to begin serving her prison sentence.

AB