Florida Attorney General Calls Out Solar Company's Massive 'Scam' in Pursuit of Legal Action

The Florida Attorney General, Ashley Moody, has taken legal action against a Tampa-based solar company following an investigation by Better Call Behnken, per WFLA.

During a news conference held on Tuesday, Moody discussed a civil complaint against MC Solar and Roofing and its owners, Armando Almirall, Raman Chopra, and Michael Crowder, who are accused of scamming numerous Floridians.

"We are pursuing legal action to permanently prevent these individuals from doing business in Florida and to seek compensation for the affected consumer," Moody stated.

Shannon Behnken, a consumer investigator, began receiving complaints about MC Solar last spring.

One of the affected consumers, Michele Helterline of Sarasota, found herself making loan payments for a malfunctioning solar system.

"After the initial inspection, they were supposed to return, but they never did. They didn't call me, and I couldn't reach them," she recounted.

Moody noted that the victims of MC Solar's alleged fraud include seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

The company is accused of going door-to-door and persuading homeowners to sign contracts under the false impression that they would qualify for federal subsidies and receive warranty coverage.

Florida Solar Scam

According to the Florida Attorney General's office, MC Solar and Roofing and its owners used deceptive sales tactics and various finance companies to entice consumers into costly residential solar agreements.

After securing financing, the company's owners paid themselves without completing installations and, in some cases, damaged consumers' homes, ABC Action News noted.

Moody revealed that records indicated the owners transferred company funds to personal accounts, including those of friends and family members.

The civil complaint details how MC Solar would initiate solar contracts, take money from consumers, and then fail to install solar systems or abandon projects at various stages.

When installations did occur, they often failed inspections or failed to connect to the electrical grid.

The company also promised swift system operation within weeks to a few months but neglected contracts and ignored consumer inquiries via phone, email, and text messages.

Frustrated consumers even visited the Tampa office, but the owners had fled and locked the doors.

The investigation also revealed that MC Solar misled consumers with promises of federal tax incentives, guaranteed 25-year warranties, and misrepresented financing costs and interest rates.

Many customers ended up with monthly payments on expensive loans and had to pay out of pocket to make their systems functional.

The civil action seeks to permanently ban the company and its owners from engaging in solar-related activities due to violations of Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, the Florida Home Solicitation Sale Act, and other Florida Statutes.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is a fifth-generation Floridian, born and raised in Plant City, Florida, according to the National Association of Attorney General.

She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting and a juris doctorate from the University of Florida.

Later, she pursued a master's degree in international law from Stetson University College of Law. In 2018, she was elected as the 38th Attorney General of Florida.

Before her role as Attorney General, Moody worked in the United States Attorney's Office, prosecuting drug, firearm, and fraud offenses.

Her excellence in drug law enforcement earned her recognition from the DEA.

She was also acknowledged by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for her leadership in "Operation Round-Up," a targeted prosecution of violent and repeat offenders.

General Moody became the youngest judge in Florida in 2006 after being elected as a Circuit Court Judge in the 13th Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County at 31.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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