A LaPlace man has been charged with bank fraud following an investigation by federal authorities. Ernest X. Taylor, Jr., 40, was charged on July 30, 2025, in a superseding bill of information, according to Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
Court documents state that between 2019 and 2022, Taylor applied for more than $400,000 in loans from credit unions. He allegedly claimed the funds would be used to buy vehicles but instead applied for the loans using other people's names and failed to disclose that he would receive the proceeds. Prosecutors allege that Taylor provided false documents such as fraudulent vehicle titles and falsified pay stubs as part of his scheme. After obtaining the loan money, Taylor reportedly defaulted on the loans.
If convicted, Taylor could face up to thirty years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
"Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that the superseding bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt."
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria M. Carboni and Edward Rivera from the Financial Crimes Unit are prosecuting.
