Statesboro pool builder accused of scamming dozens

STATESBORO, Ga. (WSAV) – A pool builder out of Statesboro is in Bulloch County Jail after allegedly scamming dozens of customers.

Austin Bays of Aqualuxe Pools is charged with conversion of payments for real property improvements, according to his booking report.

Michael and Christina Furey are two of the alleged victims who have come forward to police. They say they are two of the 30 people who have been scammed.

When asked about the $45,000 they claim to have paid Bays, Christina replied that it is a lot of money.

“It’s my kids’ tuition,” she said.

“It hurts. It’s tough,” Michael added.

They say they contacted Aqualuxe Pools in January 2023 after reading positive Google and Facebook reviews.

“I even looked up his company on the Better Business Bureau… everything. He had Google reviews. He checked out. I even got a copy of his insurance,” Michael said.

The Fureys say they were attracted to working with Bays because he promised to have the pool installed two months quicker than other builders. Michael says it was an unrealistic turnaround in hindsight.

After putting down almost a 50 percent deposit, the couple alleges Bays would often ignore them when they called to check on the project start date. It was a few months later that Christina began to get an uneasy feeling.

“His story kept changing, and his timeline kept changing,” she said.

After calling the manufacturer, they found out their fiberglass pool had never been ordered.

“It still really hasn’t hit me that the $45,000 was taken from me,” Christina said.

The Furey family then pressed charges against Bays. Several others have also come forward to police.

“It feels nice knowing he’s paying the price. But at the same time, like I still want my money back. We know we aren’t going to see it,” Michael said.

Bays’ bond is set at $200,000. According to the clerk of courts, his next appearance in the Superior Court is May 22 at 9 a.m.