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Press Release

Solar Company Owner Indicted for Fraud

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz. – On August 14, 2024, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned an 11-count indictment against Daniel Jarrett Ridlinghafer, 37, of Marana for Bank Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Mail Fraud.

The indictment alleges that Ridlinghafer owned and operated Psalm 112 LLC, d.b.a. Tucson Solar Pros, a solar installation company based in Tucson. Beginning in January 2021 and continuing through July 7, 2022, Ridlinghafer engaged in a scheme to defraud at least 25 homeowners and two federally insured credit unions. Ridlinghafer, or his employees, signed fraudulent contracts with victim homeowners for the purchase and installation of solar power electrical systems on the victims’ homes. The victim credit unions then funded loans for many of the projects based on those contracts. After receiving payment from the victim homeowners and credit unions, Ridlinghafer abandoned the projects, failed to provide the victim homeowners any of the equipment they had purchased, and did not install any solar equipment on their homes. Ridlinghafer allegedly defrauded the victim homeowners and credit unions out of at least $695,000.00.

A conviction for Bank Fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000.00 fine. A conviction for Mail Fraud and Wire Fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
 

CASE NUMBER:           CR-2024-05232 TUC-RM
RELEASE NUMBER:    2024-115_Ridlinghafer

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

Contact

Public Affairs
Zach J. Stoebe
Telephone: (602) 514-74133
zachry.stoebe@usdoj.gov

Updated August 22, 2024

Topic
Financial Fraud
Press Release Number: 2024-115_Ridlinghafer