Executive Director Charged With Stealing Public Funds

The executive director of a nonprofit organization has been charged with illegally diverting more than $2 million in public funds to himself, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced today.

Nnaemeka Ezenagu (dob 6/27/67) of Huntington Beach was charged in case BA486029 with one count each of grand theft by embezzlement and grand theft of embezzlement of public funds. His arraignment is scheduled for October 8 in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

Deputy District Attorney Casey Higgins of the Public Integrity Division is prosecuting the case. Ezenagu ran Quality of Life Services, Inc., and Quality of Life Academy as well as other nonprofit groups that had contracts with the publicly funded South Central Los Angeles Regional Center. The defendant’s organizations provided life skills to disabled clients. Between January 2014 and March 2016, the defendant is accused of embezzling over $2 million in public funds to enrich himself and cover his personal expenses. He also allegedly billed for services he never provided. The defendant was arrested on July 9. If convicted as charged, the defendant faces a possible maximum sentence of eight years in state prison. The case remains under investigation by the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation. About the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey leads the largest local prosecutorial office in the nation. Her staff of nearly 1,000 attorneys, 300 investigators and 800 support staff members is dedicated to protecting our community through the fair and ethical pursuit of justice and the safeguarding of crime victims' rights.