A LaPlace resident has been charged with bank fraud following allegations of a scheme involving fraudulent loan applications. Ernest X. Taylor, Jr., 40, was charged on July 30, 2025, in a superseding bill of information with violating federal bank fraud statutes.
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 purchase vehicles but instead applied for loans under other individuals’ names without disclosing that he would receive the proceeds. The filings indicate Taylor submitted false documentation to support his applications, including fake vehicle titles and pay stubs. Authorities report that after obtaining the funds, Taylor defaulted on the loans.
If convicted, Taylor could face up to thirty years in prison, five years of supervised release, a fine as high as $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 United States Secret Service investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria M. Carboni and Edward Rivera are prosecuting.
