Daytona Beach, FL - The Volusia Sheriff's Office says 41-year-old James Griffin, of Edgewater, is in custody today after they say he allegedly scammed nine victims out of close to $260,000.
Griffin is charged with obtaining property by fraud of more than $50,000 and grand theft of $100,000 or more. He is being held at the Volusia County Jail on a $200,000 bond.
The investigation shows that Griffin used his registered pool business, Aquatic Daze Pools and Spas, to get victims to write checks to him to build in-ground pools at their homes or refurbish existing pools. Griffin received $258,782.38 from his victims for work that would not be completed.
Investigators say Griffin started the jobs, would ask for more money and left each victim with a hole in the ground that could not be used with hiring another contractor to complete the work.
The Sheriff's Office was alerted to Griffin on March 5, 2019. His victims include residents of Ormond Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, and Palm Coast in Flagler County.
The Sheriff's Office says that anyone who thinks they may be a victim of Griffin's scam should contact the Sheriff's Office Sergeant Turner at 386-248-1788.
