Milton (December 11, 2019) – The OPP charged four men in connection with an alleged solar farm construction fraud by Clarida Construction & Maintenance. At that time, the company was family-run by three brothers Keith Clarida (53), Bruce Clarida (68), and Bradley Clarida (65), who have been charged with two counts of Fraud Over $5,000 and False Pretense Or Statement alongside with their former company financial controller David Wood (62). According to The Canadian Press, the men are accused of the solar farm construction fraud by being responsible for a total amount of unpaid bills of $21.3 million regarding three government-funded solar energy projects in Ontario between 2012 and 2013.
After a lengthy investigation, the OPP charged four men in connection with an alleged solar farm construction fraud. On July 25, 2014, Temiskaming OPP received a fraud complaint about the solar company Clarida Construction & Maintenance.
Unpaid bills of family-run solar construction company lead to fraud charges
The Sault Ste. Marie based solar company ceased operations in 2013. Before that, the solar construction company was family-run by three brothers, Keith Clarida (53), Bruce Clarida (68), and Bradley Clarida (65). The fourth man who is facing fraud charges related to this matter is the company’s former financial controller, David Wood (62). Back then, Clarida Construction & Maintenance was involved in three government-funded solar energy projects across Ontario.
Solar farm construction fraud on three government-funded projects
The OPP reports that the alleged solar farm construction fraud took place in 2012 and 2013. Back then, the solar company apparently refused to pay subcontractors who were also working on the Ontarian solar energy projects. The estimated total amount of unpaid bills in the solar farm construction fraud adds up to $21.3 million, according to The Canadian Press.
As a result of over five years of investigation, OPP charged the four men with two counts of Fraud Over $5,000 and False Pretense Or Statement. They are scheduled to appear in Ontario Court of Justice in Milton on January 27, 2020.
Read more: Werth Solar owner Barry Pincock arrested for 5 fraud charges
Anyone with information should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
