Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution has secured an 18-year prison sentence for Ricardo Villarroel Duerto, the owner of Villa Pavers and Pools, for defrauding nearly 100 Florida homeowners out of more than $1 million.
Villarroel Duerto was convicted on charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering.
The fraudulent scheme involved luring customers with the promise of low-cost pools and then failing to deliver on the contracts after receiving substantial deposits.
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“Building a pool is an expensive undertaking and some families may save for years to build their dream pool,” Attorney General Moody said. “This shady contractor took advantage of nearly 100 Florida homeowners, including seniors, trying to buy a pool—causing more than $1 million in losses. Thanks to our Statewide Prosecutors, this contractor will serve a lengthy prison sentence for ripping off Floridians.”
The victims of this scheme were spread across multiple counties in Florida, including Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Pinellas, and others.
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Villarroel Duerto’s actions not only caused financial hardship for the homeowners but also left many with unfinished and unusable pools in their backyards.
The case was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and prosecuted by the Office of Statewide Prosecution. The 18-year sentence handed down by the Honorable Judge William S. Orth sends a strong message that fraudulent business practices will not be tolerated in Florida.
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