HILTON HEAD, SC — Peter J. Strauss, a 46-year-old attorney from Hilton Head, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison for his involvement in transferring $3 million to prevent its lawful seizure. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina made the announcement, detailing Strauss’ role in the illegal transfer of funds linked to an ongoing investigation into DC Solar Solutions Inc. and its founders, Jeff and Paulette Carpoff.
Court documents reveal that Strauss helped move the $3 million from an account in the Bahamas to his own trust account. Strauss then used the funds for personal purposes, aiding the Carpoffs in their efforts to hide assets from federal authorities.
The investigation stemmed from a large-scale federal raid on December 18, 2018, when the FBI, alongside other agencies, targeted the Carpoffs’ businesses and homes. The Carpoffs’ companies, DC Solar Solutions and DC Solar Distribution, were under investigation for a complex money laundering and investment fraud scheme.
In addition to the initial $3 million transferred in December 2018, Strauss received further funds, totaling $11 million. The funds were transferred to his trust account and distributed to various recipients, including attorneys and bankruptcy counsel, before being fully spent.
Both Jeff and Paulette Carpoff have already pleaded guilty to serious charges. Jeff Carpoff was sentenced to 30 years in prison in January 2020, while Paulette Carpoff received an 11-year sentence in November 2021.
