Rochester Business Owner Pleads Guilty to PPP Fraud

Rochester, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced February 7, 2025, that Timothy A. Taylor, 39, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to wire fraud before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The charge carries maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that between July 2020, and August 2021, Taylor, who owned Data Brilliance Software LLC in Greece, NY, filed fraudulent applications for Payroll Protection Program loans, which were designed to help small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Taylor stated that he had 87 employees and a monthly payroll of $607,000. In reality, the company had only one employee who was paid $10,000 total for the entire year. Taylor received a total of $1,500,000, which he used for his own personal expenses. 

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations Division, under the direction of Special Agent- in-Charge Harry Chavis.                 

Sentencing is scheduled for June 11, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. before Chief Judge Wolford.