The owner of a Florida pool construction company, Ricardo Villarroel Duerto, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for defrauding nearly 100 homeowners. The State Attorney’s Office, through Attorney General Ashley Moody, announced that Villarroel, owner of Villa Pavers and Pools, was found guilty of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering after scamming homeowners out of over a million dollars.
According to Telemundo51, the investigation began in 2021 when the first complaints surfaced. Authorities demonstrated that Villarroel targeted victims across multiple counties, including Broward, Collier, Hendry, Hillsborough, Lake, Miami-Dade, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, and Seminole.
He lured homeowners by offering low prices and, after receiving initial deposits for the work, failed to complete the pool installations. He left gaping holes in yards, pocketed the money, and vanished without fulfilling his contractual obligations. Moody explained that many families save for years to install a pool, and Villarroel exploited that dream, impacting around 100 homeowners, including the elderly.
Authorities received numerous complaints that Villa Pavers and Pools charged approximately 40% of the pool installation cost but did not finish the job. Additionally, it was discovered that Villarroel collaborated with Luis Álvarez, a licensed general contractor from Conquer Builders, who sold the use of his license to Villa Pavers and Pools, allowing them to obtain construction permits and deceive homeowners.
Villarroel also hired two sales agents, Michael Borrego Fernández and Laura Ballester Alpízar, who helped expand the fraud by securing more contracts and generating more illicit income. Ultimately, Álvarez, Borrego, and Ballester were arrested and face the same charges as Villarroel. Álvarez pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing, while Borrego and Ballester were released on bail.
Details on the Pool Contractor Fraud Case in Florida
Here are some frequently asked questions about the pool contractor fraud case involving Ricardo Villarroel Duerto and his collaborators.
Who is Ricardo Villarroel Duerto?
Ricardo Villarroel Duerto is the owner of Villa Pavers and Pools, a pool construction company in Florida, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for defrauding nearly 100 homeowners.
What charges were brought against Ricardo Villarroel Duerto?
Ricardo Villarroel Duerto was found guilty of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering after scamming homeowners out of over a million dollars.
How did Villarroel execute his fraud scheme?
Villarroel lured homeowners by offering low prices and, after receiving initial deposits, failed to complete the pool installations. He left holes in yards and vanished with the money.
Who were Villarroel's collaborators in the fraud scheme?
Villarroel collaborated with Luis Álvarez, a licensed general contractor from Conquer Builders, and hired two sales agents, Michael Borrego Fernández and Laura Ballester Alpízar, to expand the fraud.