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10/15/2025

California Lawyer Pleads Guilty in $912 Million Solar Ponzi Scheme

JD Journal

A California attorney has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges tied to a massive $912 million Ponzi scheme involving a solar energy investment company that deceived thousands of investors across the United States. The shocking case highlights how complex financial engineering and misplaced trust in “green” ventures can lead to devastating losses—and even criminal convictions.

The Lawyer Behind the Scheme

Attorney Ari Lauer, who represented the now-defunct Benicia-based company DC Solar, entered a guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Sacramento on October 14. He admitted to 23 counts of wire fraud, bank fraud, and related offenses connected to one of the largest renewable-energy investment frauds in U.S. history.

Lauer’s sentencing is set for January 26, while his trial was originally slated to begin on October 21. His guilty plea came just days before the trial was scheduled to start, signaling a strategic decision to accept responsibility rather than face what could have been a much longer sentence if convicted by a jury.

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