Manatee contractor took $300K to build pools. He never did the work, deputies say
A Manatee County pool contractor is facing multiple felony charges after investigators accused him of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars for swimming pool projects that were never finished.
Jason Zabawa, 46, of Bradenton, was arrested four times between May and late June on charges of misapplication of construction funds, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Investigators say homeowners collectively paid nearly $300,000 toward the projects before construction stopped or remained incomplete.
An attorney representing Zabawa did not immediately respond to the Bradenton Herald’s request for comment.
Zabawa owned Sunscape Pools and Outdoor Design, 5002 Lena Road, Unit 108, in Bradenton. As of Friday, the business is marked as “permanently closed” on Google Maps.
Investigators say the four criminal cases all followed the same pattern: Homeowners hired Sunscape Pools to build backyard pools in 2024, construction stalled by early 2025 and they ultimately had to pay subcontractors themselves to resolve legal claims against their properties.
In two of the cases, a pair of Lakewood Ranch homeowners each paid about $54,000 before construction stopped after crews dug the hole and built the concrete pool shell, according to arrest reports. Both later had to pay out of pocket after unpaid subcontractors placed liens on their homes.
Another homeowner paid about $117,000 toward a pool project that remained unfinished, investigators said. The homeowner withheld the final payment, spent another $40,000 to hire a different contractor to finish the project and later paid an unpaid subcontractor to remove a lien from the property.
A fourth case involves a Parrish homeowner who paid nearly $74,000 for a pool project. Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies say the homeowner had to foot a nearly $4,000 bill directly to a subcontractor after learning it had not been paid.
Under Florida law, a contractor who receives enough money to pay subcontractors but doesn’t pay them for at least 45 days can face criminal charges if a lien is later filed against the property.
Customers accuse pool contractor of fraud
Online reviews show customers had been raising many of the same complaints months before the arrests.
One reviewer wrote that a pool promised in 12 to 16 weeks remained unfinished nearly a year later, calling it “the worst experience I have ever had with any contractor.” Another customer wrote that crews failed to show up for “8 weeks straight” and that the homeowner later received a lien notice because a subcontractor had not been paid.
Other reviewers described unfinished projects, repeated construction delays, difficulty reaching the owner, being forced to pay vendors directly after receiving lien notices and unresolved warranty work after construction.
The felony charges and online scrutiny weren’t the only signs of trouble for Zabawa’s business.
State records show dozens of homeowners also complained to Florida regulators about Zabawa’s work. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation closed 32 complaints against his contractor’s license, issuing disciplinary orders that included fines, restitution and Zabawa giving up his contractor’s license.
At least 26 homeowners have also filed claims with Florida’s Homeowners’ Construction Recovery Fund, a state program that can reimburse homeowners who lose money because of licensed contractors. Most of those claims remain under review.
Manatee contractor faces lawsuits
Court records show Zabawa and Sunscape Ventures have also been named in at least nine civil lawsuits since early 2025.
Several homeowners sued alleging that pool projects were abandoned or never completed after they paid substantial portions of their contracts.
In one lawsuit, homeowners said they paid more than $90,000 before work stopped short of installing the pool enclosure. In another lawsuit, homeowners said they paid a $34,200 deposit, but little work was completed before construction came to a halt. A judge later ruled in their favor.
Businesses also accused Sunscape Pools and Outdoor Design of failing to pay its bills. Suppliers sued the company over more than $85,000 in unpaid materials, while another lawsuit accused Sunscape of failing to repay more than $164,000 in business financing, according to court records.
The four criminal cases against Zabawa remain pending in Manatee County. Court records show he has pleaded not guilty and requested jury trials. He is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 7.
