Man sentenced to 6 years in prison for fraud case

GRAND RAPIDS (AP) -- A Grand Rapids-area man has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for a scheme to get $800,000 from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Nehemiah Muzamhindo of Kentwood was accused of creating shell companies and opening bank accounts while persuading the foundation to provide money to a charity in Africa. He pleaded guilty in March to money laundering. MLive.com says Muzamhindo was sentenced last Wednesday in Grand Rapids federal court. The loss to the Kellogg Foundation totaled $800,000, although Muzamhindo is responsible for $630,000. There were other people involved in the scheme. Authorities learned about it while investigating Muzamhindo for other crimes. He's a native of Zimbabwe who entered the U.S. in 1995. Defense attorney Scott Mertens says the case has brought his client a "great deal of shame." Published: Mon, Sep 9, 2013