FL Man Sentenced In Multi-Million Dollar Pool Contracting Scheme

PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL — A Florida pool contractor will spend decades behind bars after prosecutors said he defrauded customers out of millions of dollars.

Brian Washburn stole more than $2 million from customers and often left dangerous debris piles and gaping holes in their backyards, according to Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.

A judge recently sentenced to a 30-year sentence on nine felony counts: one count of organized scheme to defraud, a first-degree felony; two counts of money laundering of more than $100,000, a first-degree felony; and six counts of fraudulent use of personal identification information, a third-degree felony.

The judge also ordered Washburn to pay $3 million in restitution for the victims of the pool fraud scheme.

“This fraudster will spend decades in prison for stealing millions of dollars from Floridians who made huge down payments to have pools built on their properties, Moody said in a news release. "He took their money, dug massive holes in their yards, then ran from his contractual obligations to complete the work, but he didn’t get far before the law caught up with him. Now, thanks to my statewide prosecutors, he will spend a long time behind bars thinking about his terrible crimes.”

Deputies announce the arrest of Brian Washburn and his wife, Chyrstal, last year:

According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Washburn convinced more than 100 homeowners in Brevard, Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties to sign contracts to build pools with promises of low prices and quick, professional work.

Authorities said the contracts required hefty upfront deposits and large front-end payments. Once Washburn received a deposit, the company sometimes abandoned the project before work began.

In other cases, investigators said Washburn dug gaping holes in the victims’ backyards with dangerous debris piles around the project site. The company left the majority of the pool projects uncompleted, resulting in expensive property damage for homeowners.

In an attempt to cover up the fraud, authorities said Washburn used a third-party check cashing store to convert the deposits into cash.

It was “calculated and intentional,” said Special Agent Lee Massie of the Washburns’ actions during a news conference last year.

Washburn’s wife and co-conspirator, Chyrstal Washburn, remains in custody at the Indian River County Jail. Her charges are currently pending.