Former Attorney for California Solar Firm Sentenced in $1 Billion Fraud Scheme

Ari Lauer received 11 years and 5 months in prison for his role in the DC Solar Ponzi scheme.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 5:50pm

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Ari Lauer, an attorney for the California solar power company DC Solar, has been sentenced to 11 years and 5 months in prison for his role in a $1 billion fraud scheme. Lauer pleaded guilty to 23 felony counts, including bank fraud and wire fraud, for his involvement in the Ponzi scheme that defrauded thousands of investors.

Why it matters

This case highlights the significant damage that white-collar crime can have on investors and the broader economy. The DC Solar fraud scheme was one of the largest Ponzi schemes in recent history, impacting thousands of victims and leading to over $790 million in restitution orders.

The details

Between 2011 and 2018, DC Solar marketed mobile solar generator units, claiming they could provide emergency power for cell companies or events. However, the company sold more generators than it made, using phony financial statements and lease contracts to conceal the fraud. About 9,000 of the 17,000 generators claimed to exist did not actually exist.

  • Lauer was sentenced on March 10, 2026.
  • DC Solar founder Jeff Carpoff was sentenced in 2021 to 30 years in prison.

The players

Ari Lauer

A 61-year-old attorney who was the outside counsel for DC Solar and pleaded guilty to 23 felony counts, including bank fraud and wire fraud, for his role in the $1 billion fraud scheme.

Jeff Carpoff

The founder of DC Solar who was sentenced in 2021 to 30 years in prison and ordered to pay $790.6 million in restitution for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

The company owned by Warren Buffett that was among the investors suckered by the DC Solar fraud scheme.

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What they’re saying

“Without the participation of Lauer, the DC Solar fraud scheme would never have been operational.”

— Eric Grant, U.S. Attorney

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow any of the other defendants in the DC Solar fraud scheme to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the significant damage that white-collar crime can have on investors and the broader economy, with the DC Solar fraud scheme being one of the largest Ponzi schemes in recent history. It serves as a warning about the importance of thorough due diligence and oversight when it comes to complex financial transactions.