Olympus Pools Owner Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison, Ordered to Pay $2 Million in Restitution
James Ivan Staten Jr., former owner of Olympus Pools, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $2 million in restitution and penalties after being convicted on 35 criminal counts related to a widespread fraud scheme across multiple Florida counties.
Staten, who operated the Pasco County-based pool construction business, was found guilty of aggravated white-collar crime, organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, and contractor fraud. Authorities say Staten collected large down payments from customers across Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, and Polk counties, but left numerous homeowners with unfinished pools and damaged properties.
According to the Florida Attorney General’s Office, Staten stole approximately $1.5 million by accepting payments and failing to deliver services. The victims, many of whom were left with destroyed yards and no recourse, spurred a multi-agency investigation led by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Pinellas County State Attorney’s Division of Consumer Protection. The Pasco, Polk, and Manatee County Sheriff’s Offices also contributed to the case.
In addition to his prison sentence, Staten must serve 30 years of probation following his release. During that time, he is prohibited from owning or operating any business. He has also been ordered to pay his victims over $1 million in restitution and a $1 million fine for aggravated white-collar crime.
Olympus Pools was forced to shut down in 2023 following a civil case brought by the Attorney General’s Office. The case is one of Florida’s most extensive contractor fraud prosecutions in recent years.
