SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The last defendant in the biggest criminal fraud scheme in the history of the Eastern District of California was sentenced today, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
Ronald J. Roach, 59, of Walnut Creek, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 66 months in prison. Roach and co-defendant Joseph Bayliss were the first DC Solar defendants to plead guilty on Oct. 22, 2019.
"Today’s sentencing marks the final chapter in an extensive fraud that caused significant loss. This outcome reflects years of careful, methodical investigative work and a prosecution built on meticulous attention to detail," said U.S. Attorney Grant. "None of the eight defendants went to trial, but each ultimately accepted responsibility and pleaded guilty. Our office remains committed to holding accountable those who exploit others for personal gain. We will continue to pursue justice with diligence and integrity."
As the company’s accountant, Ronald Roach concealed the truth from investors for years, enabling DC Solar to operate on fabricated financials. The DC Solar fraud permeated nearly every level of the company’s criminal operations.
The DC Solar case revealed a deliberate and sweeping effort to abuse federal tax incentives and deceive investors on an extraordinary scale. Between 2011 and 2018, DC Solar manufactured mobile solar generators that were mounted on trailers and claimed that they were used to provide emergency power to cellphone towers and lighting at sporting and other events.
Between March 2011 and Dec. 18, 2018, investors invested approximately $759.4 million, and several financial institutions and other investors transferred $152.7 million to DC Solar as part of related transactions for the purchase and lease of generators. In total, DC Solar closed transactions with investors that contributed more than $912 million to purchase generators. Those transactions were purported to involve approximately 17,000 generators, at appropriate values of up to $250,000 per unit.
Related Federal Cases
- Ryan Guidry, DC Solar Ponzi Scheme, California 2023 · Texas
- Moses S. Hall, Mortgage Modification Scheme, California 2008 · New Hampshire
- Joshua Rice, Bomb Hoax Scheme, California 2024 · Texas
- Edwin Forrest Ludwig III, Tax Fraud Scheme, California 2024 · Oklahoma
- Marc Christopher Harmon, Investment Fraud Scheme, California 2024 · Puerto Rico
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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