The owner of a once-popular pool construction company in Hernando County has been arrested following a Better Call Behnken investigation into unfinished and abandoned pool projects.
Frank Bierwiler, owner of West Hernando Pools and Spas, was arrested Thursday on charges of embezzlement and misappropriation of construction funds totaling $100,000 or more, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators say Bierwiler accepted large deposits from customers for pool projects that were never completed. In some cases, authorities allege that required permits were never obtained, leaving homeowners with unsafe and unfinished backyards.
The investigation unfolded over several months, during which victims waited for law enforcement to complete its inquiry. One of those victims, Debra Ely of Spring Hill, said Bierwiler took her deposit without ever pulling a permit for her pool. With assistance from WFLA Consumer Investigator Shannon Behnken, Ely was eventually able to recover her deposit, though many other customers were not as fortunate.
Ely said she felt relieved after learning of Bierwiler’s arrest.
“Finally, maybe justice is going to be served,” she said.
She added that hearing from other victims weighed heavily on her, noting that the situation could have affected even more families.
When the investigation first began, customers described abandoned construction sites and hazardous conditions left behind after projects stalled. One homeowner, James Fisher, said he paid $53,000 for a pool that was never finished.
“This is what I’ve got for my $53,000,” Fisher said at the time.
Authorities say there are currently 10 identified victims in the criminal case, along with dozens of additional complaints still under review. Bierwiler posted a $25,000 bond and was released Friday afternoon. The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the investigation remains active.
