Mon, January 27th 2025 at 1:01 PM
Two pool contractors are accused of defrauding hundreds of Floridians out of millions of dollars.
The Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution has filed criminal charges against Charles and Kristin Black, who owned Legacy Pools and are both accused of operating a scheme to defraud customers by taking large sums of money for pool construction projects that were never completed.
According to a law enforcement investigation, from October 2019 to August 2022, the Blacks collected funds from over 300 victims in Brevard, Orange, and Osceola counties, amassing more than $2 million. Instead of building pools, the couple reportedly used the money to finance a lavish personal lifestyle, leaving customers with unfinished projects and financial losses.
Acting Attorney General John Guard warned the public about the risks of hiring contractors for large projects.
“The public needs to be careful when hiring a contractor for large projects like building a pool,” Guard said. “Do not rely on just what the salesman tells you. Verify that the contractor is legitimate and has the wherewithal to perform by checking with prior customers, the Better Business Bureau, and other similar resources. There are unfortunately scammers, like this couple, out there.”
Charles and Kristin Black face multiple charges, including one count of scheme to defraud more than $50,000 with a victim 65 years of age or older, one count of scheme to defraud $20,000 to $50,000, and five counts of unlawful filing of false documents.