FL Man Sentenced In Multi-Million Dollar Pool Contracting Scheme
According to police, Brian Washburn stole millions from clients and frequently left hazardous debris mounds and gaping holes in their backyards.
A Florida pool contractor who allegedly cheated clients out of millions of dollars will spend decades in prison, according to the prosecution.
According to Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, Brian Washburn stole more than $2 million from clients and frequently left hazardous debris mounds and gaping holes in their backyards.
Nine felony offenses were recently given 30-year sentences by a judge: one count of an organized plot to defraud, a felony of the 1st degree; 2 laundering counts that involve more than $100k; and 6 counts of fraud through use of personal ID info, which is a third-degree felony.
In addition, the judge mandated that Washburn pay $3 million in compensation to the pool fraud scheme’s victims.
According to a news release from Moody, “This fraudster will serve decades in prison for stealing millions of dollars from Floridians who made sizable down payments to have pools put on their houses. He stole their money, dug enormous holes in their yards, and then fled from his commitments to finish the work as per the contract. However, he didn’t get very far before the law caught up with him. He will now spend a considerable amount of time in jail contemplating his horrific acts, thanks to my statewide prosecutors.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement claims that Washburn used promises of inexpensive costs and prompt, skilled work to persuade more than 100 homeowners in the counties of Brevard, Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie to accept contracts for pool construction.
The contracts, according to the authorities, demanded sizable upfront deposits and upfront payments. When Washburn received a deposit, the business occasionally gave up on the project before it started.
In other instances, investigators claimed Washburn created unsafe rubble piles all around the building site and left huge holes in the victims’ backyards. The majority of the pool projects were abandoned by the corporation, costing homeowners a lot of money in property damage.
Authorities claimed that Washburn converted the payments into cash via a third-party check cashing business in an effort to conceal the scam.
During a news conference last year, Special Agent Lee Massie described the Washburns’ acts as “planned and intentional.”
Chyrstal Washburn, Washburn’s spouse and fellow conspirator, is still being held in the Indian River County Jail. Her accusations are still pending.
