A Contra Costa-based attorney who helped a solar company pull off a massive Ponzi scheme was sentenced Monday to more than 11 years in federal prison, federal officials said.
Ari J. Lauer, 61, of Lafayette, was sentenced to 11 years and five months in prison by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd for his role in what prosecutors described as the largest criminal fraud scheme in the history of the Eastern District of California.
Lauer served as an outside attorney to DC Solar from about 2009 to January 2019, advising the company on legal and business matters. Prosecutors said in their complaint that his position as an attorney helped to give the company legitimacy and reduced suspicion among investors…