Alleged Scam by Pool Contractor Involves Taking Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars from Customers

Summer is arriving and many families are preparing to build their ideal backyards, however, some are facing issues with an alleged scamming pool contractor. KSAT Investigates has uncovered the story of families who paid for backyard pools, only to receive incomplete projects and questionable quality. The Clausen family, for instance, paid Caleb Jenkins of Aquazul Custom Pools $126,000 to build a pool in their striking backyard. The work was initiated in February 2023 and was supposed to be finished in three months, but the Clausen’s backyard still has a hole where their pool should be. Another couple, the Villanuevas, paid Jenkins $223,000 for a project containing a casita, grotto, landscaping, fencing, and a pool. However, they discovered numerous issues with the quality of work, including unsealed rocks polluting the water and cracked pipes that needed replacement.

Both families tried to persuade Jenkins to complete the work or refund their money, but alas, on October 5, 2023, each family received a letter declaring bankruptcy. Upon investigating, the KSAT team found no records of a bankruptcy filing. In probing deeper, the past of Caleb Jenkins was unveiled. His track record included being named as a defendant in two lawsuits. The first lawsuit from New York’s Supreme Court required Jenkins to pay over $93,000 to BHB Funding for unpaid business loans. In the second lawsuit, filed by Itria Ventures LLC in October 2023, Jenkins was ordered to pay $250,000 in damages for unpaid loans.

Jenkins’ spending is also in question as in an arbitration involving his ex-partner and their child, many expenses claimed from the business account were disqualified as unnecessary for producing income. These expenses included trips to Mexico, jewelry, dining, clothing, and medical bills. Meanwhile, investigations at the reportedly vacant office of Aquazul Custom Pools yielded no results and efforts to contact Jenkins went ignored. As of the publication of this article, Jenkins has not been charged with any crime in relation to his pool clients’ allegations.

Responding to allegations on social media, Jenkins claimed that he is indeed declaring bankruptcy, a process he says may take months. He also defended his work by pointing out that there has been work done and products made in these backyards. still feeling wronged, the Clausen and Villanueva families have filed reports with their respective law enforcement agencies in hopes of bringing Jenkins to justice. According to the Texas Penal Code, Jenkins could face a felony charge for the services he was paid for but never completed.