The Florida Attorney General’s Office has filed criminal charges against Charles and Kristin Black, pool contractors accused of defrauding hundreds of Floridians. The couple is charged with running a fraudulent scheme through their business, Legacy Pools, based in Brevard County. According to an investigation, over nearly three years, they collected large sums from customers for pool construction but used the funds for personal expenses instead.
Acting Attorney General John Guard cautioned the public: “The public needs to be careful when hiring a contractor for large projects like building a pool. 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. When law enforcement officers find fraudsters taking advantage of Floridians, the Office of Statewide Prosecution will hold them accountable.”
Between October 2019 and August 2022, Legacy Pools allegedly took money from customers promising pool installations but left many with unfulfilled contracts and unfinished work. The investigation revealed that they also falsified permit applications in Brevard County to avoid approximately $48,000 in fees.
The scheme reportedly affected more than 300 victims across Brevard, Orange, and Osceola counties and involved over $2 million in losses. Charles and Kristin Black face multiple charges including one count of scheme to defraud more than $50,000 involving a victim aged 65 or older, one count of scheme to defraud between $20,000 to $50,000, and five counts of filing false documents unlawfully.
The Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will handle the prosecution of this case.