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Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Roughly $800,000 From Children’s Charity

Posted at 10:22 PM, Mar 08, 2013
and last updated 2013-03-08 22:32:18-05

GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN—A man pleaded guilty Friday for money laundering and income tax charges involving a children’s charity that’s headquartered in Battle Creek, according to the Department of Justice.

Nehemiah Muzamhindo, a Grand Rapids resident, was investigated in 2008 when he was accused of obtaining fraudulent U.S. passports. In a news release from the Department of Justice, it was noted that during the investigation, agents found evidence that Muzamhindo received large wire transfers from the bank accounts connected to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in the Republic of South Africa.

The investigation concluded that Muzamhindo was one of many people submitting fake invoices for payment to WKKF, which paid the members nearly $800,000 between 2006 and 2008.

He also admitted that he had filed false income tax returns during 2006 and 2008. According to the release, Muzamhindo said he did not report any of the money he received from WKKF during those years.

Muzamhindo could get the maximum sentence of 23 years in prison, along with an order of restitution and criminal fines. He could even be deported back to Zimbabwe .

Sentencing will be conducted by U.S. District Judge Janet T. Neff. The sentencing date has not been scheduled.