FORT PIERCE, Fla. (WPEC) — A Florida woman who was accused of defrauding people out of millions under the guise of her swimming pool company was found guilty, according to court officials.
Indian River County court officials said Chrystal Washburn, the co-owner of Amoré Pools, was found guilty last week on 14 counts. The charges include one count of being guilty of an organized scheme to defraud, fraudulent use of personal identification, money laundering, and omitting or concealing information to avoid workers' compensation premium.
Court documents said Washburn will be sentenced on June 25 at the Indian River County court.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested Washburn and her husband, Brian Washburn, in 2021, after they were accused of using their swimming pool company to defraud customers out of at least $2 million.
Customers across the area were reportedly impacted, including in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Brevard Counties.
Investigators said they took large deposits from homeowners to build in ground residential swimming pools. The projects would never be completed and some projects were abandoned before any work was done.
One woman came forward and told WPEC she paid around $28,000 for a pool to be installed in her background, only to be left with a hole in her backyard.
In 2022, Washburn's husband was found guilty of nine felony counts, including one count of organized scheme to defraud, a first-degree felony; two counts of money laundering of more than $100,000, both first-degree felonies; and six counts of fraudulent use of personal identification information, a third-degree felony.
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