Manatee pool contractor charged after incomplete work, deputies say. What to know
A Bradenton pool contractor faces multiple felony charges after investigators say he took nearly $300,000 from homeowners for swimming pool projects that stalled or were never completed.
Jason Zabawa, 46, was arrested four times between May and late June on charges tied to his now-shuttered business, Sunscape Pools and Outdoor Design.
FULL STORY: Manatee contractor took $300K to build pools. He never did the work, deputies say
Here are key takeaways:
- Zabawa faces charges of misapplication of construction funds, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Under Florida law, a contractor who receives money to pay subcontractors but doesn’t pay them for at least 45 days can face charges if a lien is filed.
- The four criminal cases follow the same pattern: homeowners hired Sunscape Pools in 2024, construction stalled by early 2025 and homeowners had to pay subcontractors themselves to clear liens. Payments ranged from about $54,000 to $117,000 per project.
- The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation closed 32 complaints against Zabawa’s contractor’s license, issuing fines, restitution and requiring him to give up the license. At least 26 homeowners have filed claims with Florida’s Homeowners’ Construction Recovery Fund.
- Zabawa and Sunscape Ventures have been named in at least nine civil lawsuits since early 2025. Suppliers sued over more than $85,000 in unpaid materials, and another lawsuit accused the company of failing to repay more than $164,000 in business financing.
- Zabawa has pleaded not guilty and requested jury trials. He is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 7.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.
Michael Moore Jr.
Bradenton Herald