SEC v. Ari J. Lauer, No. LR-25544, Eastern District of California (Sept. 30, 2022) — Press Release
raw: Ari Lauer
Ari Lauer, No. 2:22-CV-01726 (Sept. 30, 2022)
The SEC charged attorney Ari J. Lauer for his role in a $910 million Ponzi scheme involving DC Solar, seeking injunctive relief, disgorgement, and civil penalties.
Ari J. Lauer, the outside general counsel for DC Solar Solutions and DC Solar Distribution, is charged with participating in a $910 million Ponzi scheme operating between 2011 and 2018. Lauer allegedly created misleading transaction documents and provided false information regarding solar generator leases to hide the lack of legitimate revenue. The SEC is seeking injunctive relief, disgorgement, and civil penalties for violations of federal securities antifraud provisions.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed charges against Ari J. Lauer, an attorney for DC Solar Solutions, Inc. and DC Solar Distribution, Inc., for his involvement in a massive Ponzi scheme. Between 2011 and 2018, the scheme raised over $910 million from investors by promising gains through alternative energy tax credits and mobile solar generator leases. However, the SEC alleges that thousands of the promised generators were never manufactured and that revenue was actually sourced from new investors to pay existing ones. Lauer is accused of creating misleading transaction documents and providing false information about leases to conceal the fraud. While Lauer personally earned millions of dollars from the scheme, investors lost their funds. The SEC is seeking injunctive relief, disgorgement, and civil penalties for violations of federal securities laws.
Exhibits & Attached Documents (1)
Extracted insights
- $910.00M $910 Million $100M–$1B
- $910.00M $910 million $100M–$1B
- person ari j. lauer
- person dc solar
- company dc solar solutions, inc. and dc solar distribution, inc.
- agency Securities and Exchange Commission
- Securities And Exchange Commission Announce Charges Against Ari J. Lauer
- Ari J. Lauer Serve As General Counsel For Dc Solar Solutions, Inc. And Dc Solar Distribution, Inc.
- Ari J. Lauer Participate In Ponzi Scheme That Raised Over $910 Million From Investors Between 2011 And 2018
- Ari J. Lauer Help Obtain Investments In Securities Issued By Dc Solar
- Ari J. Lauer Create Misleading Transaction Documents And Provide False Information About Purported Leases To Investors
- Ari J. Lauer Make Millions Of Dollars From The Scheme
- Securities And Exchange Commission Charge Ari J. Lauer With Violating The Antifraud Provisions Of The Federal Securities Laws
- Securities And Exchange Commission Seek Injunctive Relief, Disgorgement, And Civil Penalties Against Ari J. Lauer
- Securities And Exchange Commission Conduct Investigation With Sarra Cho, Armita Cohen, Osman Nawaz, And Kam Lee
- Securities And Exchange Commission Lead Litigation With Dean M. Conway And Melissa Armstrong
SEC Charges California Attorney for Role in $910 Million Ponzi Scheme Litigation Release No. 25544/ September 30, 2022 Securities and Exchange Commission v. Ari Lauer, No. 2:22-CV-01726 (E.D.Cal. filed September 30, 2022) The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against Ari J. Lauer, an attorney for DC Solar Solutions, Inc. and DC Solar Distribution, Inc. (together "DC Solar"), for his role in a multi-year alternative energy tax credit Ponzi scheme run by the two California-based companies. According to the SEC's complaint, filed in federal court in Sacramento, Lauer served as the outside general counsel for DC Solar. Lauer is alleged to have been an important participant in a massive Ponzi scheme that raised over $910 million from investors between 2011 and 2018. The complaint alleges that Lauer helped obtain investments in securities issued by DC Solar that purportedly delivered gains in the form of tax benefits, guaranteed lease payments, and additional profits from the leasing of mobile solar generators. In reality, the complaint alleges, thousands of the purportedly profitable generators were never even manufactured, let alone put into use, and the vast majority of revenue to existing investors came from funds from new investors. Lauer is alleged to have created misleading transaction documents and provided false information about purported leases to investors, in order to hide the lack of legitimate lease revenue from them. According to the complaint, Lauer made millions of dollars from the scheme, while investors lost their money. The SEC's complaint charges Lauer with violating the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws and seeks injunctive relief, disgorgement, and civil penalties. The SEC's investigation was conducted by Sarra Cho and supervised by Armita Cohen and Osman Nawaz, all of the SEC's Complex Financial Instruments Unit, with the assistance of Kam Lee. The litigation is being led by Dean M. Conway and supervised by Melissa Armstrong. SEC Complaint
SEC Charges California Attorney for Role in $910 Million Ponzi Scheme Litigation Release No. 25544/ September 30, 2022 Securities and Exchange Commission v. Ari Lauer, No. 2:22-CV-01726 (E.D.Cal. filed September 30, 2022) The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against Ari J. Lauer, an attorney for DC Solar Solutions, Inc. and DC Solar Distribution, Inc. (together "DC Solar"), for his role in a multi-year alternative energy tax credit Ponzi scheme run by the two California-based companies. According to the SEC's complaint, filed in federal court in Sacramento, Lauer served as the outside general counsel for DC Solar. Lauer is alleged to have been an important participant in a massive Ponzi scheme that raised over $910 million from investors between 2011 and 2018. The complaint alleges that Lauer helped obtain investments in securities issued by DC Solar that purportedly delivered gains in the form of tax benefits, guaranteed lease payments, and additional profits from the leasing of mobile solar generators. In reality, the complaint alleges, thousands of the purportedly profitable generators were never even manufactured, let alone put into use, and the vast majority of revenue to existing investors came from funds from new investors. Lauer is alleged to have created misleading transaction documents and provided false information about purported leases to investors, in order to hide the lack of legitimate lease revenue from them. According to the complaint, Lauer made millions of dollars from the scheme, while investors lost their money. The SEC's complaint charges Lauer with violating the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws and seeks injunctive relief, disgorgement, and civil penalties. The SEC's investigation was conducted by Sarra Cho and supervised by Armita Cohen and Osman Nawaz, all of the SEC's Complex Financial Instruments Unit, with the assistance of Kam Lee. The litigation is being led by Dean M. Conway and supervised by Melissa Armstrong. SEC Complaint