DC Solar Solutions, Inc. (defunct)
Unclaimed10/100 · Serious concerns
Public-record listing · CA/NV (defunct 2019)
Unclaimed listing. This firm has not registered or claimed this page. Everything here comes from public records and the firm’s own public website, as of 2026-10-15.
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What they do
Sold mobile solar generators with lease-backs to tax-credit investors; federal prosecutors found at least half the claimed generators did not exist. Owner sentenced to 30 years (2021). See the linked DOJ and court sources.
Public-record summary. Category: Solar ITC - mobile generators (S08). Fees: n/a.
Strategies offered
- Solar Investment Credits Public record source
Evidence score
10/100 · Serious concerns10 of 98 applicable points = 10. Rubric v1.1 (2026-10-17). Retrieved 2026-10-15.
34 points are pending because the item could not be checked from public records. If every pending item were verified, the score could reach up to 39 (limited by caps or by items that don't apply). How this is calculated.
| Category | Points | |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory record (weight 25) | 0 / 25 | |
| Tax-controversy record (weight 20) | 10 / 20 | |
| Litigation & complaints (weight 15) | 0 / 15 | |
| Transparency (weight 15) | 0 / 15 | |
| Substance & verifiability (weight 15) | 0 / 15 | |
| Structure quality (weight 10) | 0 / 8 |
Red flags
A flag stays Open, and its cap applies, until it is addressed with new public evidence or with materials the firm submits and a reviewer accepts. Addressed flags no longer limit the score.
Evidence by item
Each line shows the points awarded, how it was checked and a source link where one exists.
Regulatory record · 0 / 25
| Item | Points | Status | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| R1 Registration status verified for firm and soliciting individuals where required (BD/IA/state; insurance producer if relevant) | 0 / 5 | VERIFIED | No registration; investments sold without BD/IA involvement documented. source |
| R2 No SEC/FINRA disciplinary events for the firm (10-yr lookback) | 0 / 8 | VERIFIED | SEC civil securities-fraud action arising from the DC Solar scheme (E.D. Cal.). source |
| R3 No disciplinary events for principals/control persons (10-yr lookback) | 0 / 6 | VERIFIED | Persons in control of the firm were criminally convicted (E.D. Cal.; DOJ and FDIC-OIG press releases). source |
| R4 No state securities-regulator or state AG actions against firm/principals | 0 / 4 | UNVERIFIED | State actions not searched. |
| R5 Named licensed professionals (CPA/attorney/EA) in good standing | 0 / 2 | VERIFIED | DC Solar's outside accountant was convicted (IRS-CI). source |
Tax-controversy record · 10 / 20
| Item | Points | Status | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 Strategy is not a listed transaction / transaction of interest and not a current Dirty Dozen theme | 8 / 8 | VERIFIED | Strategy category (Sec. 48 ITC) itself is not listed; the fraud is captured elsewhere. source |
| T2 No DOJ Tax Division injunctions / IRC §§6700, 6701 promoter cases against firm or principals | 0 / 6 | VERIFIED | Criminal prosecution of principals (more severe than a 7408 injunction). source |
| T3 No adverse Tax Court / appellate opinions involving the sponsor's prior deals | 0 / 4 | UNVERIFIED | Investor Tax Court cases not searched. |
| T4 Provides clear reportable-transaction disclosure guidance (Form 8886/8918) where applicable | 2 / 2 | VERIFIED | Strategy is not a listed transaction/TOI, so Form 8886/8918 guidance is N/A-justified (rubric: 2 = clear or N/A-justified). source |
Litigation & complaints · 0 / 15
| Item | Points | Status | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| L1 No material civil fraud/misrepresentation litigation (firm, principals, affiliates) | 0 / 6 | VERIFIED | Pending/extensive fraud-related civil litigation (e.g., Solarmore v. DC Solar estate, RICO, E.D. Cal. 2019; trustee fraudulent-transfer actions). source |
| L2 Complaint pattern reasonable (BBB, state AG, CFPB where relevant) | 0 / 4 | VERIFIED | Pattern of investor/creditor claims (bankruptcy adversary proceedings). source |
| L3 No bankruptcy/insolvency pattern among principals or affiliates | 0 / 3 | VERIFIED | Multiple affiliated entity bankruptcies (DC Solar Solutions, Distribution, Freedom - Bankr. D. Nev. 2019). source |
| L4 Entities in good standing with Secretary of State; legal entity names match marketing | 0 / 2 | VERIFIED | Defunct. |
Transparency · 0 / 15
| Item | Points | Status | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| X1 Fees and total costs published or provided in writing before commitment | 0 / 4 | UNVERIFIED | n/a |
| X2 Offering documents available before commitment; Form D on EDGAR where applicable | 0 / 4 | UNVERIFIED | n/a |
| X3 Names tax counsel / opinion issuer and allows direct verification | 0 / 4 | UNVERIFIED | n/a |
| X4 Discloses audit/examination and claim history of prior deals | 0 / 3 | UNVERIFIED | Audit/examination and claim history of prior deals is not in public records; would need firm disclosure. |
Substance & verifiability · 0 / 15
| Item | Points | Status | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| V1 Underlying assets independently verifiable (e.g., interconnection agreements, utility records, deeds, dated site evidence) | 0 / 6 | VERIFIED | At least half of the claimed generators did not exist (DOJ/FDIC-OIG). source |
| V2 Placed-in-service / completion evidence for prior projects | 0 / 4 | VERIFIED | Placed-in-service claims false for nonexistent units. source |
| V3 Appraisals by independent credentialed appraisers (not promoter-selected) | 0 / 3 | UNVERIFIED | n/a |
| V4 Pre-tax economic substance: investment case exists apart from tax benefits | 0 / 2 | VERIFIED | Lease revenue was falsified; tax benefit was the return (Ponzi). source |
Structure quality · 0 / 8
| Item | Points | Status | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 Independent legal opinion (not solely promoter-paid boilerplate) | 0 / 4 | UNVERIFIED | n/a |
| Q2 Tax insurance verified directly with named carrier/broker (policy exists, scope understood) | n/a | Not applicable | n/a |
| Q3 Fees reasonable relative to comparable offerings | 0 / 2 | UNVERIFIED | Needs a written fee comparison set of >=3 comparable offerings; not built in this initial review. |
| Q4 No guaranteed outcomes, benefit multiples or 'audit-proof' claims | 0 / 2 | UNVERIFIED | n/a |
About these scores. Scores reflect only publicly available evidence found as of the retrieval date shown, scored with the same rubric for every firm. They are not an endorsement, rating of quality, accusation or statement about any person. Items we could not check from public records earn no points and are marked Unverified; a firm can supply proof to update them. How we score · Request a correction
Complaints
0 complaints under review · 0 substantiated · 0 with a response from the firm.
Complaints are an allegation until a reviewer decides. We show only the category and status, never the complainant’s identity, the description or any documents. Private complaints are counted but not itemized. The firm can respond by claiming this listing.
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Verification and listing notice
"Verified" means our staff checked the identity, business-registration, and credential details listed against the sources named, on the date shown. It is not an endorsement, rating, or recommendation. Firm- and advisor-reported information is their own statement. Listings are alphabetical; payment never affects order, scores, or warnings.