Hernando pool customers still seek accountability months after fraud arrest

For Hernando County pool customers, the wait for answers has stretched from months into years, with some still out tens of thousands of dollars and staring at backyards left as open holes. Frank Bierwiler, the owner of West Hernando Pools and Spas, was arrested in February on a fraud-related charge tied to embezzlement and misappropriation of construction funds totaling $100,000 or more, but the criminal case is still moving through the system.

Court records show Bierwiler posted a $25,000 bond, pleaded not guilty and waived his right to a speedy trial. The next hearing is set for June 30, 2026. The Hernando County State Attorney’s Office said the defense asked for more time to review discovery, leaving customers like Debra Ely still waiting for a resolution after the arrest they had been pressing for.

Ely said, “Finally, maybe justice is going to be served.” But justice has not yet translated into completed pools or returned money for many families. Karen Rushlow said Bierwiler owed her $8,000 and that her project dragged on for years, with repeated excuses, unpaid subcontractors and extra costs she had to cover herself.

The case grew out of a far broader breakdown than one unfinished job. In March 2024, Hernando County cut West Hernando Pools and Spas off from opening new permits and ordered the company to work through a 123-permit backlog. County records showed six pending permits, 46 active permits and 71 inactive permits, some dating to 2014. County inspectors said some of the unfinished projects left dangerous open holes in backyards, turning a consumer dispute into a safety issue.

By June 2024, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said the matter had become an active criminal investigation. Later that summer, Bierwiler voluntarily surrendered his state contractor’s license amid the state regulatory and criminal probes. WFLA also reported that more than 100 unfinished mud pits were left in Hernando County backyards during the investigation, and that 10 victims were listed in the criminal case along with dozens of other complaints.

A county special master, Kenneth Warnstadt, later ruled that dangerous holes had to be finished before Bierwiler could pull additional permits. For homeowners still waiting, that decision underscored the accountability gap: the county can block permits, the state can strip a license and prosecutors can pursue charges, but finishing the work and recovering money remain separate fights that have already outlasted the arrest.