Pool contractor charged for defrauding customers

LAKELAND (FOX 13) - A pool contractor has been arrested for allegedly scamming customers out of more than $250,000.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said John Lee Johnson, 58, of Winter Haven, used his company, Tropic Pools of Central Florida for the scam. 

Accompanied by some of Johnson's alleged victims, Judd told reporters Wednesday how Johnson ripped people off.

Some of the victims said after going under contract with Johnson, the work would not be done despite their having paid thousands of dollars. Some victims said they had liens against their homes due to Johnson's business.

One victim said his wife injured herself due to the poor quality of the work that was done.

Johnson's victims lost thousands of dollars, but they are also having to pay again to have the jobs Johnson started completed properly.

Judd said the sheriff's office has identified seven victims so far. He hopes anyone who has done business with John Johnson or Tropic Pools of Central Florida and may have been victimized to contact the sheriff's office.

Johnson faces charges of scheming to defraud, misappropriation of funds, and grand theft.