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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida pool company owner was sentenced to 30 years in prison for stealing $1.2 million from homeowners and leaving them with holes in their yards, according to Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.
Chrystal Washburn, who owns Amore Pools, took payments from homeowners but left pools unfinished, Moody said. Washburn and her husband, Brian Washburn, would often leave debris piles along with holes in homeowners’ backyards.
“This couple promised to deliver dream pools, but left holes in Floridians’ hearts and backyards, by abandoning pool projects and stealing more than $1.2 million in cash,” Moody said in a statement.
Chrystal Washburn started Amore Pools by obtaining a fraudulent contractor’s license, Moody said, despite having no prior experience in the industry, by lying on the application and forging another contractor’s signature.
She also had a Palm Beach County engineer fraudulently vouch for her experience and said she had worked for