James Staten, the proprietor of Olympus Pools, surrendered himself to Pasco County authorities, as he confronts serious felony allegations associated with the now-defunct high-end pool construction enterprise.
For over a span of more than two years, Pool Magazine has been reporting on the ongoing developments surrounding Olympus Pools. This follows a string of complaints from homeowners who asserted that substantial sums were paid to Staten, yet the contracted work was left incomplete.
Recent reports have revealed that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, in collaboration with the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office and the Attorney General’s office, have jointly announced an array of 34 criminal charges against Staten.
The charges, as outlined by the FDLE, encompass: Aggravated white-collar crime; Orchestrated fraudulent scheme; 20 instances of grand theft; eight cases of mishandled allocation of construction funds; and five charges of contractor fraud.
Linked Story: Banned For Life – Olympus Pools Owner Agrees to Attorney General Settlement
The legal representative for Staten, Richard “Rick” Escobar, who commenced representing Staten only last week, has yet to receive the definitive list of charges. In addressing the issue surrounding the collapsed business, Escobar conveyed that the predicament is deeply distressing for a multitude of individuals. He further emphasized that his client harbored no deliberate intention to misappropriate funds.
Attorney General Ashley Moody had initiated legal proceedings against Olympus Pools due to a multitude of incomplete pool projects. As part of a settlement, Staten agreed to an enduring prohibition on his involvement in the management of any residential pool construction companies in Florida. However, it’s crucial to note that this was a civil settlement, differing from the current criminal case that Staten is now confronting.
Court records indicate that the Attorney General (AG) aimed to secure a $10 million judgment. However, given Staten’s demonstrated lack of financial resources, the AG will now pursue a $1 million judgment as an integral component of Staten’s ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.
At present, Staten is detained under a bond amounting to $2.8 million. Escobar has conveyed his intentions to file for a bond hearing and advocate for a reduction in the bond amount. His rationale rests on the fact that Staten, devoid of any prior criminal record, should be granted release from custody.
Featured Photo Credit: WFLA
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