Indiana’s top prosecutor is taking a Greenwood pool builder to court, accusing the company of cashing big checks and leaving homeowners high and dry instead of swimming laps in new backyard pools.
The Indiana attorney general has filed a civil lawsuit against Smarter Pools LLC and owner Justin Lee Carter, alleging they accepted customers’ money and then failed to finish the work they promised. Several homeowners who paid for in-ground pools say they were left with torn-up yards, no completed projects, and growing bills. The civil case follows earlier criminal charges and a wave of consumer complaints that pulled both local and state officials into the deep end of the dispute.
According to WISH‑TV, the state’s complaint filed on June 12 names 25 customers who collectively paid about $1.7 million. The filing asks a court to order restitution for those consumers and alleges that Smarter Pools and Carter took deposits or payments, then either failed to complete the contracted work or caused property damage. The attorney general’s office argues those actions violate the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act and is also asking for a permanent injunction that would block Carter from owning, operating, or managing any home-improvement business in Indiana. A hearing date has not yet been set.
Pattern Of Complaints And A Closed Storefront
The Better Business Bureau has issued an alert about Smarter Pools, warning that consumers repeatedly reported paying sizable down payments only to see work stall or never get finished. Details are posted on the company’s Better Business Bureau listing.
Public contractor records still show Smarter Pools registered in Greenwood, and local directories such as BuildZoom list the company as a pool contractor. But a tenant at the firm’s former Airport Parkway office and past customers told reporters the business cleared out months ago, and its website is no longer active. Across multiple online review and contractor platforms, consumers have posted detailed accounts of large up-front payments followed by half-finished or never-started pool projects.
Criminal Charges And Judgments
The legal trouble is not limited to the civil suit. Hamilton County prosecutors have filed criminal theft and fraud charges against Justin Lee Carter following an investigation by Sheridan Police, according to WRTV.
That reporting also cites court records showing roughly $208,699 in judgments against Smarter Pools since April 2025, with financial firms in several states suing to recover unpaid debts. One homeowner interviewed in the WRTV investigation, Jenny Peretin, said she put down $60,000 for a pool project and never saw any work begin. “We have nothing,” she told investigators, summing up the frustration shared by many of the customers now watching the court cases.
Legal Implications And What Homeowners Can Do
The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division has the power to seek restitution for consumers, civil penalties, and court orders that can permanently shut down deceptive operations, according to the office’s online resources at the Indiana Attorney General website.
Consumers who believe they were harmed by Smarter Pools or any other contractor can submit a complaint through the Indiana Attorney General online portal. Officials recommend keeping copies of contracts, receipts, emails, text messages, and photos of the work site to support any claim. Homeowners can also report suspected criminal activity to local law enforcement, check in with the Better Business Bureau for guidance, and talk with private attorneys about potential civil lawsuits or small-claims options.
For now, customers and state officials are waiting to see how the new civil case proceeds through filings, motions, and eventual hearings, while the criminal prosecutions continue in Hamilton County. The situation is a stark reminder of the financial risk that comes with large up-front payments on big home-improvement projects and has renewed calls for careful vetting of contractors, from license checks to reference calls.
Courts will ultimately decide what Carter and Smarter Pools owe, if anything, but the fallout has already spread far beyond a few unfinished backyards. We will keep an eye on the court dockets and public records and update this story as new documents and hearing dates surface.
