SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A federal grand jury has brought down the hammer on six defendants accused of a massive $2.2 million fraud against Solano County’s energy sector. Timothy Chapin, 38, and his alleged cronies Manuel Agueros, 37, Jeffrey Reilley, 53, Paul Fournier, 34, Jorge Eguiluz, 46, and Robert Lautenslager, 38, face a 25-count indictment for their roles in the elaborate scam.
The defendants are charged with numerous counts of conspiracy to commit mail or wire fraud, as well as individual charges of mail fraud and wire fraud. The investigation revealed that Chapin, Reilley, and Agueros were employed by a Florida-based energy generation firm operating wind farms in Birds Landing, California. They’re accused of generating phony purchase orders for non-existent parts and services, which were then funneled through three Arizona shell companies set up by Fournier. These invoices, totaling nearly $2 million, were fraudulently paid by the energy company.
Further investigations revealed similar schemes involving Eguiluz’s ‘J. Eguiluz Labor Service LLC’ and a shell company established by Lautenslager.
This case was jointly investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation, with Assistant United States Attorney Nirav Desai leading the prosecution.
Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. Money laundering charges could incur fines of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved. The ultimate sentence will be determined by the court.
The charges against these defendants are only allegations, and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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