A $30,000 Pool That Was Never Built: Schenectady Contractor Arrested Again, Police Probe More Complaints

Published Oct. 14, 2026. Case statuses are current as of that date.

A Saratoga County homeowner hired a contractor in January to install a pool and paid $30,000 for materials and a deposit. New York State Police say the pool was never installed and the money was never returned [1].

Christopher P. Quinn, 49, of Schenectady, New York, who police say operated as "QC Pools," was arrested on Sept. 24, 2026. He faces felony charges of grand larceny in the third degree and scheme to defraud in the first degree. Police say it was the second time in 2026 he had been arrested on similar charges [1]. State Police say other complaints are under investigation. WNYT reported that people in several counties, and one in Delaware, have described similar experiences [2].

Important: Quinn is charged, not convicted, in both cases described below. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. We found no public comment from Quinn or a lawyer for him.

How the alleged schemes worked

The pool job (Saratoga County). Troopers received a theft complaint from a Saratoga County resident on Aug. 27, 2026. According to State Police, as reported by the Newport Dispatch:

• Quinn, "operating under the business name 'QC Pools,'" was hired in January to install a pool.
• The homeowner paid him a total of $30,000 to buy materials and as a deposit.
• He "failed to complete the contracted work or return the victim's money."

The fence job (Rensselaer County). On April 7, 2026, State Police in Schodack, with help from the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office, arrested Quinn on a warrant. Police said that in February 2024 he was hired as a subcontractor by a Rensselaer County resident to do fence work and was paid more than $11,000. He allegedly never installed the fence. When he was hired, police said, Quinn "reportedly used the false name of Christopher Johnson" [1].

The Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office is also investigating similar incidents involving Quinn, "indicating this is a systemic, ongoing course of conduct," according to the police account [1].

Other complaints (not charged). In an Oct. 7 report, people told WNYT they had paid Quinn for work that was never finished, from an electric gate to a patio. One customer in Rensselaer County said he told her there was a problem with her bank and he couldn't cash her check, so she paid him at the bank. She said she later paid more in cash for a motor. Someone came to dig a ditch, she said, "and then nothing." A Delaware homeowner told the station he had paid more than $8,000 for a patio and that the supplies never arrived. Others described bounced checks and unpaid equipment rentals [2]. These accounts have not resulted in charges that we could find. They are allegations made to a news outlet, and they are unconfirmed by police.

The person charged

Christopher P. Quinn, 49, of Schenectady, N.Y. (business names reported as "QC Pools" and "QC Industries") [1][2]

Saratoga County case (pool):

• Arrested Sept. 24, 2026, by State Police at Clifton Park.
• Charges: grand larceny in the third degree (class D felony) and scheme to defraud in the first degree (class E felony).
• Arraigned in Clifton Park Town Court. Remanded to the Saratoga County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000 cash, a $10,000 bond or a $20,000 partially secured bond [1].

Rensselaer County case (fence):

• Arrested April 7, 2026, after a traffic stop in Colonie.
• Charges: grand larceny in the third degree (class D felony) and scheme to defraud in the second degree (class A misdemeanor).
• Arraigned in Schodack Town Court and released under the supervision of the Rensselaer County Probation Department. He was then turned over to the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office on another outstanding warrant [1].

Upcoming court date: Court officials told WNYT that Quinn appeared in Schenectady County Court on Oct. 6 for a violation of probation. That matter was adjourned to Oct. 22, 2026, at 9:15 a.m. in city court [2]. The underlying case for the probation matter was not described. Status pending.

Red flags when hiring a contractor

• Large upfront payments "for materials." Pay in stages tied to finished work.
• Excuses about why your check can't be deposited, followed by requests for cash.
• A contractor who works under several business names, or a name that doesn't match his ID or license.
• Missed delivery dates for supplies that never arrive.
• Half-finished work, like an open trench, followed by silence.

What to do if you're targeted

1. Check the contractor. Search the name and every business name used, plus "arrest" or "complaint." Ask for proof of insurance and any local license your town requires.
2. Get a written contract with a payment schedule and start and completion dates. Under New York's home improvement rules, contractors who take deposits must handle them according to state law.
3. Pay by check or credit card, never cash, so there's a record.
4. Report it. In this case, State Police ask anyone who believes they may be a victim, or who has information, to call 518-457-6811 [1]. You can also file a complaint with the New York Attorney General's Consumer Frauds Bureau.

Case status (as of Oct. 14, 2026)

Defendant	Court	Status as of Oct. 14, 2026	Source
Christopher P. Quinn, 49, Schenectady, N.Y. (Saratoga County pool case)	Clifton Park Town Court	Charged with grand larceny 3rd and scheme to defraud 1st; arrested Sept. 24, 2026; remanded in lieu of bail as of the arrest report	[1]
Christopher P. Quinn (Rensselaer County fence case)	Schodack Town Court	Charged with grand larceny 3rd and scheme to defraud 2nd; arrested April 7, 2026; released under probation department supervision	[1]
Christopher P. Quinn (probation violation)	Schenectady courts	Adjourned to Oct. 22, 2026 (status pending)	[2]

Statuses can change. Charges are allegations, not findings of guilt.

Sources

1. Daniel Duric, "Pool contractor arrested on fraud charges in Clifton Park," Newport Dispatch, Oct. 2, 2026 (reporting a New York State Police announcement). https://www.newportdispatch.com/2026/10/02/pool-contractor-arrested-on-fraud-charges-in-clifton-park/
2. Kumi Tucker, "Victims describe being scammed by Schenectady contractor," WNYT, Oct. 7, 2026. https://wnyt.com/top-stories/victims-describe-being-scammed-by-schenectady-contractor/

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