Rochester Man Sentenced for Multi-Million Dollar Fraud
A federal judge has sentenced Timothy Wadsworth to over four years in prison for his involvement in extensive fraud schemes.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Financial Crime
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Timothy Wadsworth was sentenced to four years and three months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering. The court also ordered him to pay $811,000 in restitution.
Why it matters
The sentencing concludes a case involving more than $2 million in fraudulent activity across multiple pandemic-era relief programs and consumer scams. These actions highlight the ongoing federal efforts to prosecute exploitation of government aid and financial systems.
Wadsworth is ordered to pay $811,000 in restitution and must forfeit an additional $811,000 to the government. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
The players
Timothy Wadsworth
He is the Rochester-based defendant who orchestrated multi-million dollar fraud schemes involving government loans and personal financial exploitation.
The details
Wadsworth operated schemes involving false COVID-19 disaster loan applications, Payroll Protection Program loans, and unemployment benefits. He further processed stolen credit card numbers through Stripe and targeted seven individuals in a romance fraud scheme.
Timeline
March 2020 marked the start of the fraudulent activity period.
March 10, 2020, through May 15, 2020, involved Stripe credit card processing.
May 13, 2020, through May 5, 2021, saw the submission of false disaster loan applications.
September 2021 marked the end of the fraudulent activity period.
May 2026 was the date Wadsworth entered his guilty plea.
Legal Context
This case aligns with the broader federal initiative to investigate and prosecute pandemic-related financial crimes under the CARES Act. It marks a significant effort to recover funds lost to illicit disaster loan and unemployment benefit applications.
The resolution of this case helps clarify the federal stance on the misuse of pandemic relief funds and protects the integrity of future disaster assistance programs. Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity related to government loan programs to appropriate federal authorities.
The takeaway
Financial scams targeting government relief programs face severe federal consequences including long prison terms and substantial restitution orders. Individuals should be wary of romance fraud and protect their financial information to avoid becoming victims of similar schemes.
Further reading
Learn more about local enforcement efforts in the Financial Crime section.
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