Huntington Beach man accused of stealing millions from LA nonprofits helping people with disabilities

LOS ANGELES — The head of several nonprofit organizations intended to serve individuals with disabilities is facing charges of embezzling more than $2 million in public funds, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday.

Nnaemeka Ezenagu, 53, of Huntington Beach, is facing one count each of grand theft by embezzlement and grand theft of embezzlement of public funds. He was arrested last Thursday on a warrant issued in March and released after a citation was issued, according to the District Attorney’s Office and online jail records.

Prosecutors said 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 to provide life skills to clients with disabilities. Between January 2014 and March 2016, the defendant is accused of embezzling over $2 million to enrich himself and cover his personal expenses.

Ezenagu, who also allegedly billed for services he never provided, is set to be arraigned Oct. 8.

If convicted as charged, he faces up to eight years in prison.