Prior Lake-Based Pool Company Banned From Doing Business In MN

PRIOR LAKE, MN — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Friday announced that he obtained a default judgment in Scott County District Court against Prior Lake-based pool in a deceptive pool construction scheme.

Workman scammed more than a dozen Minnesota families out of $1.1 million before fleeing the state, according to Ellison's office.

The court judgment permanently bans Charlie Workman and his company, MN Crete Pools, from the residential construction industry in Minnesota. Workman and his company must pay $1.1 million in restitution and $1.1 million in civil penalties.

"Mr. Workman turned people’s dreams of having a swimming pool for their family to enjoy into a nightmare," Ellison said in a news release.

"He lied to them at every step to get them to pay him in advance, and then disappeared with their money without providing the pools he promised. Let this be a warning to any contractor even thinking about defrauding people: I will not tolerate this kind of predatory behavior."

The attorney general's office filed his lawsuit against Workman in August 2022. According to Ellison, MN Crete Pools used a deceptive sales model to lure consumers into signing expensive pool installation contracts.

Workman got business by misrepresenting to consumers that his company had only one more opening to build a pool and falsely promising to start, according to the lawsuit.

Workman also claimed he would complete projects within timelines that were much sooner than his competition, Ellison said.

Workman also deceived consumers into making advanced payments for pool equipment or pool installation services that he failed to provide or complete, according to the lawsuit.

Ellison said that when consumers contacted Workman about the lack of progress on their project, he offered all kinds of false excuses, including:

• His employees were sick
• He filed a permit incorrectly
• Road restrictions
• Mechanical issues

Workman even acknowledged to a few consumers that he had not lived up to his end of the contract and promised to refund money to them, but never did. In the end, Workman scammed more than a dozen Minnesota families out of $1.1 million before fleeing the state.

"I want to thank the families Mr. Workman defrauded for coming forward and contacting my office. This result was made possible because they shared their stories with us," Ellison continued.

"If you’ve been scammed by a contractor, don’t feel ashamed and don’t stay silent. My office and I will continue to hold unscrupulous contractors accountable."