Ari J. Lauer, 61, of Lafayette, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 11 years and five months years in prison for his role in the biggest criminal fraud scheme in the history of the Eastern District of California, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
From approximately 2009 to January 2019, Lauer, an attorney licensed to practice law in California, was outside counsel to DC Solar and provided legal and business advice concerning DC Solar’s operations. Lauer’s role gave the scheme legitimacy and diminished any suspicion the investors might have had.
On Oct. 14, 2025, one week before trial, Lauer pleaded guilty to all counts with no written plea agreement. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, 12 counts of bank fraud, and 10 counts of wire fraud affecting a financial institution…