A Minnesota pool contractor who took hundreds of thousands of dollars from homeowners for projects that were never completed has been sentenced to five years in federal prison.
Charles Ray Workman, 41, of Scott County, received a 60-month sentence on September 3 after pleading guilty to wire fraud. He was also ordered to pay $1.15 million in restitution to people affected by the scheme.
Workman owned Minnesota Crete Pools, LLC, which marketed and sold concrete swimming pools and installation services in the Twin Cities area. Federal court records say he collected customer deposits while knowing that many of the promised pool projects were unlikely to be completed.
The scheme involved 21 customers between 2021 and 2022. According to prosecutors, Workman took at least $820,000 from customers who paid for pool construction that did not materialize as promised.
For some homeowners, the financial loss was only part of the damage. Families described being left with disrupted backyards, drained savings and unfinished projects after expecting their pools to be built.
How the scheme unfolded
Workman began accepting customer deposits in 2021 while failing to complete earlier projects. Despite that, he continued signing up additional customers and collecting more payments.
Federal prosecutors said Workman sometimes represented that only a limited number of construction spots remained available, encouraging customers to make payments to secure a place in the company’s schedule.
Investigators later determined that portions of customer money were used for personal expenses rather than being applied to the promised pool work. Court documents identified payments including child support, casino spending and the purchase of a horse and saddle.
The investigation eventually brought the situation to federal court. Workman was arrested in Nashville, Tennessee, in March 2023 and later pleaded guilty in September 2025.
Judge imposes five-year sentence
U.S. District Judge Michael J. Davis sentenced Workman to 60 months behind bars, a sentence that was higher than the recommended range discussed in court.
Workman became emotional during the hearing and acknowledged that he had believed he could eventually fix the situation but failed to do so.
Victims also addressed the court, describing the lasting effects of the losses and the difficulty of rebuilding trust after paying for work that was never completed.
The sentence brings a federal criminal case that began with homeowner complaints to a conclusion, although the financial impact on the affected families will continue through the restitution process.
Investigation involved multiple agencies
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.
Federal prosecutors said the case serves as a warning to consumers considering major home-improvement projects. Homeowners are encouraged to research contractors carefully and understand where deposits are going before turning over substantial amounts of money.
Workman will serve five years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.
He was taken into custody immediately following the sentencing.
