Great frauds in history: Jeff Carpoff’s green Ponzi scheme
Jeff Carpoff's plan to make money from renting out solar-powered generators quickly turned into a Ponzi scheme.
Jeff Carpoff, born in 1970, trained as a car mechanic before setting up RoverLand USA, which became one of the largest independent certified Land Rover and Jaguar repair facilities in America. A chance encounter with a client who wanted to have solar panels installed, but was worried about them being stolen, led Jeff and his wife, Paulette, to set up DC Solar, a new company that provided mobile solar-power generators. The company quickly established a reputation as a major player in the solar industry, providing temporary generators for a range of clients, including a concert by the pop star Pink.
What was the scam?
Between 2011 and 2018, DC Solar decided to fund its expansion by selling its generators to investors through its subsidiary DC Solar Solutions, with the idea that another subsidiary, DC Solar Distribution, would lease them back, paying investors a generous rate of return. However, DC Solar was unable to make much money from renting out generators and it quickly turned into a Ponzi scheme. DC Solar claimed to have 17,600 generators, but only 6,600 could later be located – early investors were paid from the money received by new sales. The Carpoffs skimmed large amounts of money from their company to acquire properties, private jets, and even a minor league baseball team.
What happened next?
By late 2019 DC Solar was supposedly doing well enough for the Carpoffs to invite the rapper Pitbull to headline the company’s Christmas party. Only a few days later the FBI raided the Carpoffs’ home, arrested the couple, and seized business records and personal assets, including most of their luxury cars, including the 1978 Firebird previously owned by actor Burt Reynolds, and $1.8m in cash. DC Solar was forced to declare bankruptcy. By January 2020 the couple had pleaded guilty to defrauding investors and laundering money. Covid-19 has delayed their formal sentencing. Jeff Carpoff faces up to 30 years and his wife up to 15 years.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Lessons for investors
Investors put a total of $2.7bn into DC Solar, both directly and via investment funds. Much of this was in the form of promissory notes, but large upfront payments of cash of around $900m were also made. Liquidators expect to recover only a fraction of that from a sale of assets. To add insult to injury, the investors, including Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, will have to repay the generous tax credits they received for investing in green energy, proving that it’s a bad idea to invest in a scheme just for the potential tax breaks.
Sign up to Money Morning
Our team, led by award winning editors, is dedicated to delivering you the top news, analysis, and guides to help you manage your money, grow your investments and build wealth.
Matthew graduated from the University of Durham in 2004; he then gained an MSc, followed by a PhD at the London School of Economics.
He has previously written for a wide range of publications, including the Guardian and the Economist, and also helped to run a newsletter on terrorism. He has spent time at Lehman Brothers, Citigroup and the consultancy Lombard Street Research.
Matthew is the author of Superinvestors: Lessons from the greatest investors in history, published by Harriman House, which has been translated into several languages. His second book, Investing Explained: The Accessible Guide to Building an Investment Portfolio, is published by Kogan Page.
As senior writer, he writes the shares and politics & economics pages, as well as weekly Blowing It and Great Frauds in History columns He also writes a fortnightly reviews page and trading tips, as well as regular cover stories and multi-page investment focus features.
Follow Matthew on Twitter: @DrMatthewPartri
-
Investors pull money from UK equities as government warns of “painful” Budget
The government’s post-election honeymoon period has been short-lived, and investors are shying away from UK equities as a result
By Katie Williams Published
-
Top global fintech companies to invest in
One British fintech hogs the headlines, but there are two top performers in the US. We explain where you should put your money
By David C. Stevenson Published
-
Who is John Donahoe, the man who made Nike uncool?
Nike’s 48-year success story has been put into question by John Donahoe, its outgoing CEO who knew nothing about Nike or its culture. What mistakes did he make?
By Jane Lewis Published
-
How to improve economic output using the supply-side approach
Boosting potential economic output through public investment is crucial, says David C. Stevenson
By David C. Stevenson Published
-
Anders Holch Povlsen: the Danish tycoon reshaping Britain
Anders Holch Povlsen has snapped up land in the Highlands, returning it to a wilderness, and plans to transform a historic department store in Edinburgh. Can he also revive Topshop?
By Jane Lewis Published
-
Buffett’s "insurance guru" Ajit Jain sells up
Warren Buffett has long sung the praises of Ajit Jain, who he once tipped to take over in the top job. Now he is selling a big chunk of his stake in Buffett’s firm. Why?
By Jane Lewis Published
-
Mexico passes controversial judicial reform – will it hurt investors?
What will Mexico's new reform mean for investors and the country's economy?
By Alex Rankine Published
-
Bill Ackman: the hedge fund manager rooting for Trump
Bill Ackman made his name as an activist investor and corporate raider. Now he’s discovering his political voice on X and is backing Donald Trump for president.
By Alex Rankine Published
-
Paetongtarn Shinawatra becomes Thailand's youngest-ever PM – will she succeed?
Paetongtarn Shinawatra is joining the family business: both her father and aunt have governed the country. She has promised to “end a cycle of coups”. Can she?
By Jane Lewis Published
-
Indonesia’s new $30 billion capital city is hit by 'delays'
What is causing the delays in Indonesia’s new capital city and when will it be complete?
By Stuart Watkins Published