ERICA PARSONS - 13 yo - (2011) - Salisbury, NC

Adoptive parents of Erica Parsons arrested on fraud charges

WCNC Staff and Tony Burbeck, WCNC
6:55 p.m. EDT July 30, 2014

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The adoptive parents of Erica Parsons were arrested on federal fraud charges Wednesday morning.

Sandy and Casey Parsons were arrested on a federal criminal indictment charging them with fraud, United States Attorney Ripley Rand announced.

Casey and Sandy are out of federal custody, but are required to wear electronic monitoring as a condition of their release stemming from their arrest on multiple fraud charges Wednesday.

The indictment alleges that, from February 2010 to August 2013, Sandy Parsons, 40, and Casey Parsons, 39, committed tax fraud, mail fraud, theft of government funds, and identity theft, and engaged in a conspiracy to defraud the government.

The indictment alleges that the Parsonses received government funded adoption assistance, Medicaid, Social Security, and Food and Nutrition Services benefits for a dependent that did not live with them and used the mail to commit the fraud.

The indictment also alleges that Casey Parsons fraudulently used the identities of other persons as dependents and used other false information when preparing federal tax returns.

Sandy and Casey Parsons are charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the government, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; 20 counts of theft of government funds, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and 20 counts of mail fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The indictment also charges Sandy Parsons with one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years, consecutive to any other sentence, and a $250,000 fine; and one count of false statement to a government agency, which carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Casey Parsons is also charged with one count of false pretense in a health care matter, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; two counts of Social Security fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; fifteen counts of aggravated identity theft, each of which carries a mandatory sentence of two years, consecutive to any other sentence, and a $250,000 fine; two counts of false statement to a government agency, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; six counts of aiding in the preparation of a false tax return, each of which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine; six counts of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and one count of making false claim against the government, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Both Casey and Sandy Parsons were visibly ticked and refused to answer questions or make statements after leaving court in Winston-Salem Wednesday afternoon.

NBC Charlotte asked Sandy Parsons why he was arrested and charged if he and Casey did nothing wrong as they have claimed for the last year, but got no answer.

Wednesday marks the one year anniversary of that reported disappearance by Erica's brother Jamie Parsons. The last time immediate family members saw Erica at the family home in Salisbury was November, 2011.

The Rowan County Sheriff's Office also announced an increased reward for Erica's return. Prevent Child Abuse, a local group, put forth $5,000 and the sheriff's office added $10,000 to its original $10,000. The total award now stands at $50,000.

Investigators say they are making progress, but questions remain whether Erica's disappearance is a crime. They say it should be clear now why they cancelled a press conference scheduled for Tuesday.

From the beginning Casey and Sandy Parsons say they've done nothing wrong except let Erica live with someone they thought was her biological grandmother. That turned out not to be true.

Family attorney Carlyle Sherrill says it appears there isn't much new investigators have uncovered. Sherrill says Casey and Sandy Parsons answer investigators' questions on a regular basis and offer any help they can.

"It says they don't have any evidence to proceed with any charges against Sandy and Casey," Sherrill said.

"What would they be arrested for? There's no evidence we know of of any crime being committed. Yes, Casey and Sandy were mistaken in who this Nan was, and it's been since last September they realized Nan wasn't who they thought she was and they sent Erica off with someone they didn't know."

Investigators are still gathering and analyzing evidence but are keeping mum about the evidence they have, including red stains found on the floorboards inside the family home.

Investigators say when they locate Erica, it will reveal what if any crime has occurred, and by whom.

"We want to find Erica and hopefully over 11 months you can have more progress than we've had, but you've got to go with what you've got," Sherrill said.

To investigators, it's progress on a case that won't close until they find Erica. To neighbors, it's a year-long search that hasn't revealed enough.

The federal fraud case was investigated by the Rowan County Sheriff's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations.

http://www.wcnc.com/story/news/local/2014/07/30/adoptive-parents-of-erica-parsons-arrested-wednesday-morning/13355459/

Jamie Parsons on parents' arrest: 'Momma knew they were coming'

Posted: Jul 30, 2014 8:48 AM CDT
Updated: Jul 30, 2014 9:33 PM CDT
By Chris Dyches

SALISBURY, NC (WBTV) - The adoptive parents of Erica Parsons appeared before a federal judge on Wednesday afternoon, hours after they were arrested on dozens of fraud charges.

Casey and Sandy Parsons were arrested at their Fayetteville home on Wednesday morning around 6 a.m. by federal agents and charged with 76 counts of fraud-related crimes.

Their son, Jamie Parsons, told WBTV that federal agents kicked the door in, guns drawn, when they came to serve the warrants on his parents.

He also said that over the previous two days, his mother indicated that she knew she was going to be arrested.

"Momma said she knew that they were coming. She had a feeling they were coming," Jamie said.

Erica Parsons was reported missing on July 30, 2013 by her adoptive brother, Jamie Parsons, who said she had not been seen since November 2011. She was 13 years old when she disappeared.

The Parsons moved to Fayetteville in August 2013 after Erica's disappearance made national headlines. Federal agents picked up the couple around 6 a.m. and drove them to a federal courthouse in Winston-Salem.

They appeared before a federal judge at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.

Casey and Sandy Parsons both asked for court-appointed attorneys and were granted the request by the judge.

The government requested each be held in prison on a $25,000 secured bond, meaning they'd be able to get out of prison by posting $2,500. They told the judge they would not be able to get that amount of money.

The judge then granted each of them a $25,000 unsecured bond and they were released from jail.

Both will be held on an electronic monitoring system. The details around their restrictions is still being worked out.

A melee broke out as the Parsons left the courthouse Wednesday. Surrounded by media, Casey pushed aside microphones to get in the back of a car driven by a young man who was with the Parsons' daughter, Brooklyn.

The driver hit the gas, but Brooklyn wasn't all the way in the car and she fell out onto the ground.  Brooklyn Parsons got up quickly and got back in the car as it left a parking deck.

According to the fraud indictment filed against the couple, from February 2010 to August 2013, Sandy Parsons, 40, and Casey Parsons, 39, committed tax fraud, mail fraud, theft of government funds, and identity theft, and engaged in a conspiracy to defraud the government.

Their son, Jamie, said he was surprised to hear how many charges his parents were facing.

"I didn't think it would be so many charges... At all," he said, "I would think there would be like one or two."

The indictment alleges that the Parsons received government funded adoption assistance, Medicaid, Social Security, and Food and Nutrition Services benefits for a dependent that did not live with them and used the mail to commit the fraud.

The indictment also alleges that Casey Parsons fraudulently used the identities of other persons as dependents and used other false information when preparing federal tax returns.

Sandy and Casey Parsons are charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the government, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; twenty counts of theft of government funds, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and twenty counts of mail fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The indictment also charges Sandy Parsons with one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years, consecutive to any other sentence, and a $250,000 fine; and one count of false statement to a government agency, which carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Casey Parsons is also charged with one count of false pretense in a health care matter, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; two counts of Social Security fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; fifteen counts of aggravated identity theft, each of which carries a mandatory sentence of two years, consecutive to any other sentence, and a $250,000 fine; two counts of false statement to a government agency, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; six counts of aiding in the preparation of a false tax return, each of which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine; six counts of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and one count of making false claim against the government, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Sandy and Casey Parsons are scheduled to have their initial appearance at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Winston-Salem.

The financial dealings of the Parsons came into the investigation at the earliest stage.

When Erica's adoptive brother James Parsons first reported Erica missing in July, he told investigators that Sandy and Casey continued to receive checks from the state of North Carolina. The checks amounted to a little over $600 per month.

The Parsons' attorney, Carlyle Sherrill, admitted in October 2013 that his clients did receive the checks, but said that they had a right to since they were the legal caregivers for Erica Parsons.

But when the home along Miller Chapel Road in Salisbury was searched by investigators on August 14, they "failed to locate any evidence of Erica Parsons still living here or any evidence that her room or personal living area still remained in the home."

They further concluded that "Sandy and Casey Parsons knew Erica would not be returning." In addition, according to an SBI search warrant, "Casey Stone Parsons and Sandy Parsons, Sr., stated Erica was adopted and that they received financial aid after Erica left their custody in 2011."

There is also a history to consider when it comes to financial matters and the Parsons.

Amy Miller, a Michigan woman, says she hired Casey Parsons to carry her child August 2001. Miller says Parsons claimed to have a miscarriage, but didn't. Five months later, Miller was finally able track down Parson and take home her son. She has the DNA test to prove he is hers.

Three years later, according to court records, Sandy and Casey Parsons took Erica, then 6 years old, to live with another family member. That family member told investigators "they took custody of Erica for about 8 months after Casey Parsons called them and said she could not stand to look at Erica."

In addition, according to court documents, "after about 8 months Casey Stone Parsons resumed custody of Erica and said that she was afraid that the Department of Social Services would find out that she did not have her and she was still getting money for her." At that time Erica returned to the home of Sandy and Casey Parsons.

As the current investigation continued, on August 12, 2013, the SBI learned from BB&T on Jake Alexander Boulevard in Salisbury that Casey and Sandy Parsons had accounts at the bank that included recent activity.

The FBI also found records through the PayPal accounts of Sandy and Casey Parsons that they had financial accounts with SunTrust Bank on W. Innes Street, Salisbury, Wells Fargo on S. Main Street in Salisbury, and Bank of America on W. Innes Street, Salisbury.

The SBI believes that "the continued desire to utilize the funds, proceeds, or financial assistance intended for the care and benefit of Erica Lynn Parsons resulted in the delay or outright denial to report Erica Lynn Parsons missing in a timely or reasonable time frame."

The SBI concluded in October 2013 that "this institutes probable cause to believe a crime, obtaining property by false pretenses, has occurred."

Financial records were seized during a search of the Parsons Rowan County home back in August 2013.

A list of seized inventory includes a Wells Fargo deposit slip, a Wells Fargo check and withdrawal slip for Shirley B. Parsons, the daughter of Casey Parsons, and several other items that could have dealt with financial records.

All of the financial records and documents seized from the house, a storage shed, and the various banks were processed by the FBI.

http://www.wbtv.com/story/26150074/adoptive-parents-of-erica-parsons-arrested-wednesday-morning

GRAND JURY INDICTMENT: CASEY STONE PARSONS AND SANDY WADE PARSONS

Adoptive parents of Erica Parsons arraigned in federal court, plead not guilty

POSTED 10:20 AM, AUGUST 6, 2014
UPDATED AT 01:45PM, AUGUST 6, 2014
BY ANDREA CAVALLIER

GREENSBORO, N.C. — The adoptive parents of missing Erica Parsons were arraigned in federal court in Greensboro Wednesday and both pleaded not guilty to all fraud charges.

Sandy Parsons, 40, and Casey Parsons, 39, were arrested last week, accused of committing tax fraud, mail fraud, theft of government funds, identity theft and engaging in a conspiracy to defraud the government.

Sandy and Casey Parsons are the adoptive parents of Erica Parsons, who was reported missing on July 30, 2013 by her adoptive brother.

The teenager reportedly has not been seen since November 2011.

The Parsons are also accused of receiving government funded adoption assistance, Medicaid, Social Security, and Food and Nutrition Services benefits for a dependent that did not live with them and used the mail to commit the fraud.

The indictment unsealed last week also alleges that Casey Parsons fraudulently used the identities of other people and used other false information when preparing federal tax returns.

Sandy and Casey Parsons are both charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the government, 20 counts of theft of government funds and 20 counts of mail fraud.

Sandy Parsons is also charged with one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of false statement to a government agency.

Casey Parsons is charged with one count of false pretense in a health care matter, two counts of Social Security fraud, 15 counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of false statement to a government agency, six counts of aiding in the preparation of a false tax return, six counts of wire fraud and one count of making false claim against the government.

http://myfox8.com/2014/08/06/adoptive-parents-of-erica-parsons-arraigned-in-federal-court-plead-not-guilty-to-all-fraud-charges/

Casey Parsons' sister: 'I want her to go away for life'

Updated: 5:09 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014
Posted: 12:27 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014
By Kathryn Burcham

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Casey Parsons' family members call her guilty plea to a federal judge a bittersweet moment.

Casey Parsons pleaded guilty to 15 counts of federal fraud and identity theft Wednesday morning in Winston-Salem, in exchange for prosecutors dropping more than 60 other counts after her indictment in July.

Casey and her husband Sandy Parsons have faced scrutiny by investigators for 14 months since their adopted daughter Erica was first reported missing in July 2013.

"I was elated because I never heard Casey, in her whole entire life, admit to doing anything wrong," Casey's sister Tammy Gray told Channel 9 Tuesday afternoon.

Gray said she believed Casey Parsons would try to fight the charges in federal court at trial, which was slated to start on Oct. 14.

Sandy Parsons' future remains unclear, as his trial is still pending.

"I do think it's justice, but at the same time, it's sad," Gray said.

Gray said she hoped that as part of the plea deal with prosecutors, Casey would be required to provide more information to investigators regarding Erica's whereabouts.

"I want her to go away for life, where she can never manipulate anyone or hurt anyone ever again," Gray said.

Casey will remain free on bond until her sentencing on Feb. 10, 2015.

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/casey-parsons-federal-fraud-charges/nhZBT/