What was supposed to be a dream summer upgrade has turned into a construction nightmare for dozens of Mid-South homeowners who say they shelled out tens of thousands of dollars for in-ground pools that were never finished. Instead of sparkling blue oases, many report staring out at dirt pits, half-buried shells, scattered plumbing and broken lights, with contractors who stopped showing up and stopped answering calls. Collectively, homeowners say the losses climb into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Ashley and Evan Claypool, identified as the owners of the Premier Pools and Spas Memphis franchise, are now at the center of a growing criminal probe, as first reported by WREG. According to the station, Evan Claypool was arrested on Feb. 20, 2026, in Macon County, Illinois, and Ashley Claypool was arrested in Shelby County in connection with a September 2025 indictment. WREG reports she was scheduled to appear in Shelby County court on Friday morning, March 6, 2026. The arrests follow months of complaints from frustrated customers and a prior WREG investigation into unfinished pool jobs.
Homeowners who spoke with reporters say they paid big money and got little more than a hole in the ground. “It ended up costing us. I believe a little over $60,000,” Tory Lilliquist told WREG. Another customer, Lesa Prince, said her family paid about $82,000 and was left with a fiberglass shell and a few broken components where a finished pool should have been. Those who have taken their complaints to investigators say they have identified more than a dozen other homeowners with similar stories that stretch across state lines.
Franchise ties and paperwork
On paper, the operation appeared legitimate. Company documents list Claypool Family Pools, LLC as the Memphis territory operator in Premier Pools & Spas’ March 2025 franchise disclosure document, which helped reassure homeowners who signed large contracts with the local franchise. The franchisor’s disclosure materials, which are publicly accessible online, include the Claypool name and contact details among their exhibits.
What homeowners should do
For homeowners who find themselves in a similar bind with any contractor, consumer advocates stress one thing above all else: document everything. That means saving contracts, receipts, and payment records, along with photos or videos of the unfinished work. The FTC advises checking licenses and insurance before you sign, getting multiple written bids, refusing to pay the entire amount up front, and filing complaints with your state attorney general and the FTC if you believe you have been targeted by a home improvement scam.
In this case, law enforcement investigations remain active and stretch across more than one county and state. Affected homeowners say they are staying in close contact with one another, trading information and updates as investigators, prosecutors, and courts work through the tangle of complaints, indictments, and arrests tied to the unfinished pools.
