FLORIDA — The Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution (OSP) has filed criminal charges against two pool contractors accused of defrauding hundreds of Floridians out of more than $2 million, the Attorney General’s Office has announced.
According to an investigation, Charles Black and Kristin Black, owners of Legacy Pools in Brevard County, took large sums of money from customers between October 2019 and August 2022 under the pretense of building pools. Instead, they reportedly used the funds to finance a lavish personal lifestyle, leaving hundreds of customers with uncompleted projects and financial losses.
The OSP said the couple also falsified permit applications in Brevard County, underreporting pool costs to avoid approximately $48,000 in permit fees. The fraudulent scheme is said to have impacted more than 300 victims across Brevard, Orange, and Osceola counties.
Acting Attorney General John Guard urged consumers to exercise caution when hiring contractors for large projects.
“Do not rely on just what the salesman tells you,” Mr Guard said.
“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.”
Charles and Kristin Black are each charged with one count of scheme to defraud more than $50,000 involving a victim 65 years or older, one count of scheme to defraud between $20,000 and $50,000, and five counts of unlawful filing of false documents.
The OSP will prosecute the case.
