VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Volusia County deputies say they arrested a pool builder who took nearly $260,000 from customers without ever completing the jobs.
James Griffin, 41, was arrested Thursday on charges of obtaining property by fraud of more than $50,000 and grand theft of $100,000 or more.
Deputies said Griffin told nine of his Aquatic Daze Pools and Spas customers across Volusia County that he would build them in-ground pools at their home but instead, he accepted their money and left them with a hole in the ground.
The victims then had to pay another contractor to complete the work, according to a news release.
“Who is this guy?” asked Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood. “For lack of a better term, he’s a thieving piece of (expletive).”
Chitwood said deputies began investigating in March. Right around that time, News 6 aired a story featuring several people who said Griffin took checks from them then stopped answering their calls when it came time to complete the work.
“It feels really good to finally have justice,” said Mary Kay Steflik, one of Griffin’s alleged victims.
She told News 6 Griffin’s company left a hole in her backyard when her family hired him to install a pool.
She said more than a year and thousands of dollars later, she’s glad he’s been arrested.
“He’s getting what he deserves because it’s wrong to go and lie and steal from good honest families who work hard and save money to have a pool for their family and for our kids,” she said.
Griffin was booked in the Volusia County Jail on Thursday night, and he was being held on $200,000 bond.
Deputies are asking anyone who gave money to Griffin without him completing the job to call the Sheriff’s Office at 386-248-1788.