Bilzerian’s lawsuit, filed in November 2023, alleges that after being ousted as the nominal CEO of Ignite in December 2023 by his father, Paul A. Bilzerian, and Rohleder, his likeness and name continued to be used without his permission. The suit gained further traction following the indictment of Paul Bilzerian and Rohleder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in September 2024, accused of securities and wire fraud.
Bilzerian also accused Rohleder of perjury in his motion to dismiss, claiming that the former CFO deliberately downplayed the amount of business Ignite conducts in Nevada. While Rohleder argued that Ignite lacked sufficient business in Nevada to support a U.S. case, Bilzerian countered by citing a distribution network that sells products at 124 retail locations across the state.
Ignite and Ignite U.S. have been involved in controversies prior to Bilzerian’s departure, including a $1.2 million judgment in April 2023 for failing to fulfill a deal with Resorts World Las Vegas for its grand opening in 2021.
