Additional Information for Amore Pools, Inc.

UPDATE as of June 25, 2024

Crystal Washburn has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after being found guilty of felony charges related to Amore Pools defrauding of consumers by taking money for pool construction and failing to complete the work.

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UPDATE As of May 24, 2024

Crystal Washburn has been found guilty of:  

    False information on application for a contractor's license
    Unlicensed contractor during state of emergency
    Organized scheme to defraud
    Seven counts of fraudulent use of personal identification information
    Two counts of money laundering
    Omit/conceal information to avoid workers compensation premium
    Insurance application fraud

She is scheduled to be sentenced June 25, 2024.

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UPDATE As of August 29, 2022:

Attorney General Ashley Moody's Office of Statewide Prosecution secured a 30-year prison sentence for a Florida man on multiple felony charges for operating a multimillion-dollar pool contracting scheme. Amore Pools Inc. owner, Brian Washburn, defrauded Florida homeowners by taking upfront payments and deposits often leaving dangerous debris piles and gaping holes in victims’ backyards.

The Honorable Judge Vaughn of the 19th Judicial Circuit sentenced Washburn to a 30-year sentence on nine felony counts: one count of organized scheme to defraud, a first-degree felony; two counts of money laundering of more than $100,000, a first-degree felony; and six counts of fraudulent use of personal identification information, a third-degree felony. The judge also ordered Washburn to pay $3 million in restitution for the victims of the pool fraud scheme.

Washburn’s wife and co-conspirator, Chyrstal Washburn, remains in custody at the Indian River County Jail. Chrystal Washburn’s charges are currently pending.

LINK: http://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleases/ACF6431CF528308E852588AD0054C329?Open&

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As of June 28, 2022:

An Indian River County jury convicted Brian Washburn on nine of the 12 felony charges against him.
Washburn was found guilty on charges of organized scheme to defraud, six counts of fraudulent use of personal identification information, and two counts of money laundering.

A sentencing date has not been set.  Washburn will remain in jail without bond as he awaits his sentencing.

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As of October 6, 2021:

FDLE agents arrested local pool contractors Brian and Chrystal Washburn, of Amore' Pools Inc., after a scheme to defraud homeowners by taking large deposits to build in-ground residential swimming pools, but never completing the projects.

Once a contract was signed, victims were required to pay a 25 percent deposit. Homeowners in Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and Martin counties signed contracts with Amore' Pools. In some cases, projects were abandoned before work was started, but other times the Washburns dug large holes in the victims' backyards with dangerous debris piles around the project site. The overwhelming majority of pools were never completed.

FDLE agents say the scheme resulted in losses of over $2 million from hundreds of victims. Upon receiving deposit checks from homeowners, the Washburns used a third-party check cashing store to convert the checks into cash in an attempt to conceal the illicit funds.

The investigation began in July, and investigators say the couple provided numerous fraudulent documents and at least one forged signature in their credentialing application packet in 2017. Using this fraudulent information, Amore' Pools became a registered pool/spa contractor.

Agents served search warrants at the Washburn residence and Amore' Pools on Tuesday. Brian and Chrystal Washburn are charged with false information on an application for contractor's license, working as an unlicensed contractor, organized scheme to defraud, identity theft, money laundering, concealing information to avoid workers compensation premiums and insurance application fraud.

The Washburns were booked into Indian River County Jail. This case is being prosecuted by Office of Statewide Prosecution.

For Further Information Contact:
FDLE Office of Public Information
(850) 410-7001

LINK: http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/News/2021/October/FDLE-arrests-Vero-Beach-business-owners-for-scheme