TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – More than two years after a Better Call Behnken investigation exposed a pole barn company that collected tens of thousands in deposits and then closed, the owner has been arrested on 12 counts of grand theft.

Z. Vernon Hall, who owned Florida Pole Barn Kits, LLC with his wife, was arrested Nov. 13.

Consumer Investigator Shannon Behnken first started receiving calls from angry consumers in spring 2022, after a growing number of people said the Hernando County-based pole barn supplier collected thousands of dollars in deposits for barns and provided nothing.

Florida Pole Barn Kits, LLC filed a voluntary dissolution of the company on Feb. 1, just weeks after signing contracts with some customers and accepting sizable deposits. At the time, the company phone number was not operable, and customers complained they have been cut off from communication.

The company was owned by Z. Vernon Hall and his wife, Tonya Hall. The business was based in Hernando County, but customers ordered pole barns from all over the state.

Some consumers say they’re not thrilled with the way the case has been handled.

And here’s why:

An email from the sheriff’s office to victims explains that these charges only pertain to victims in Hernando, Citrus, Sumter, Marion and Lake counties.

It goes on to explain the statewide prosecutor’s office has had the case since April 2022 and didn’t move forward, and that’s why it was recently referred to the local state attorney’s office.

The email says the Hernando detective “grew increasingly concerned that delays might lead to a less favorable outcome or that the statute of limitations could expire before charges were filed.”

Larissa Hicks, of Hillsbrorough County:

“At least someone has done something, which is more than what’s happened with the statewide prosecutor,” Hicks said. “What’s kind of left in the air is, is Hillsborough going to take it seriously?”

Consumer Investigator Shannon Behnken reached out to the Attorney General’s Office, which oversees the statewide prosecutor’s office. Statewide Prosecutor Nick Cox sent this statement:

“We thank the State Attorney’s Office for moving forward with charges regarding their counties of jurisdiction. The Office of Statewide Prosecution continues to work on this case and intends to bring charges involving crimes in multiple jurisdictions.“