The owners of a Florida-based pool construction company who were wanted on warrant charges for scheming to defraud customers were arrested in Arizona.

Charles and Kristin Black, both 43, the owners of Legacy Pools, located in Brevard County, Florida, were arrested on January 19 in Maricopa County, Arizona. The arrests follow a four-year investigation into dozens of complaints involving more than 300 customers who say the couple took money to build swimming pools but failed to complete the contracted jobs. “This in-depth investigation began way back in 2021 when our Economic Crimes Unit was contacted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office regarding multiple complaints against Legacy Pools for fraudulent business practices,” Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey posted to his Facebook page.

“The fraud actually began when Charles Black lied about his criminal history on his application for obtaining his contractor license and went from there as the Blacks began using the company bank account as their personal bank account, spending approximately $2 million on traveling, gym memberships, car rentals, parties, and other items!”

According to Sherriff Ivey, the Blacks victimized more than 300 people in Brevard, Osceola, and Orange Counties while continuing to benefit from their money.

“Simply put, they are thugs with a checkbook that were cashing checks on victim’s money who they lied to and defrauded!” Ivey wrote.

The Blacks were being held in Maricopa County pending extradition back to Brevard.

“Now the Blacks can enjoy the long van ride from Arizona to Ivey’s Iron Bar Lodge where the accommodations will be nothing like they’ve ever experienced before!! Just like all the people they defrauded, we don’t have a pool,” Ivey wrote.

The Blacks are charged with organized scheme to defraud more than $50,000, and five counts of unlawful filing of false documents or records against real property, the sheriff’s office reported. They also face numerous lawsuits claiming fraud.