Edgewater man arrested in swimming pool fraud scheme

A contractor was arrested Thursday for allegedly stealing more than a quarter-million dollars to build or refurbish pools, but never finished.

James Griffin, 41, is accused of defrauding nine customers between November 2017 and November 2018. He was taken into custody in Daytona Beach and is being charged with obtaining property by fraud of more than $50,000 and grand theft of $100,000 or more.

Griffin remains held at the Volusia County Branch Jail on $200,000 bail.

Griffin allegedly used his registered pool business, Aquatic Daze Pools and Spas, to convince victims to write checks to him to build in-ground pools at their home or refurbish existing pools without completing the work, the Sheriff’s Office said. The investigation began back in March.

The victims in total paid Griffin $258,782.38.

“In some cases he dug the hole but never came back so, when you think of it, you invested your money in this scumbag and all along you’re expecting to get a pool and what you got was nothing.”

The BBB lists Griffin’s business with an F rating, saying it never responded to two complaints filed against the business.

Griffin declined to comment as he was being led to a patrol car.

If anyone feels they may have been a victim of Griffin, deputies ask you to call Sgt. Turner at 386-248-1788.

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