Ohio man sentenced to eight years in prison for $1.9M fraudulent construction scheme
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. / Wednesday, September 16, 2026 – An Ohio man was sentenced today to eight years in prison for wire fraud relating to a scheme to bid for construction projects for which he was not licensed and divert payments for his own gain.
According to court documents, Matthew Paul Taylor, aka Matt Wolfe, 49, of Fairborn, incorporated and formed business entities in dozens of states and used these entities primarily in the construction industry, where he held himself out as a licensed general contractor for construction projects across the United States.
Between January 2020 and February 2023, Taylor successfully bid for contracts for business construction projects in several states. Taylor concealed his lack of status as a licensed contractor by fraudulently using the licensing credentials of other businesses. Taylor forged notary stamps, presented fabricated certificates and lien waivers, and made false representations to receive payments for projects. He made lulling payments, if any, to subcontractors or offered false explanations for lack of payment, such as that he had not received payment. In truth, Taylor diverted payments he received for contract work and instead used the funds for his personal benefit. Taylor also knowingly made misrepresentations to regulators to conceal his fraud.
Taylor was ordered to pay $1,936,882.22 in restitution.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Dominique Evans, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mack Coleman and Brian J. Samuels prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:25-cr-35.
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Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia
