DEPUTIES ARREST EDGEWATER MAN IN SWIMMING POOL FRAUD SCHEME 9 Victims Paid Him Nearly $260,000; Work Never Finished

Volusia sheriff’s deputies arrested an Edgewater man today on a warrant charging him with defrauding nine victims of nearly $260,000 they paid him between November 2017 and November 2018 to build or refurbish swimming pools. 

James Griffin, 41, (DOB 03-22-1978), was taken into custody in Daytona Beach without incident. He is charged with obtaining property by fraud of more than $50,000 and grand theft of $100,000 or more. He remains held at the Volusia County Branch Jail on $200,000 bail.

Griffin, of 2504 Mango Tree Drive, used his registered pool business, Aquatic Daze Pools and Spas, to convince the victims to write checks to him to build in-ground pools at their home or to refurbish existing pools without completing the work. The victims paid Griffin a total of $258,782.38

In each case, Griffin failed to finish the jobs, asked for more money and left each victim with a hole in the ground that could not be used without hiring another licensed contractor to repair the shell of a pool that Griffin began.

The Sheriff’s Office was alerted and began investigating March 5, 2019. The victims included residents of Ormond Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater and Palm Coast in Flagler County. 

A warrant for Griffin’s arrest was secured this week from the State Attorney’s Office. Anyone who believes they have been a victim of this scam is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Turner, (386)-248-1788.