Casey Parsons Takes Plea Deal for Federal Charges, Sandy States that He Will Go to Court

The adoptive father of missing North Carolina teenager Erica Parsons stated on Tuesday, October 7th, that he will go to court to face his federal fraud charges, despite the fact that, for the same charges, his wife has accepted a plea deal for federal charges.

Sandy and Casey Parsons each faced 76 federal charges involving defrauding the federal government by accepting adoption program money although Erica Parsons had run away from home.

In the first week of October, Casey Parsons pleaded guilty to 15 counts of fraud as part of a plea deal, and will be sentenced for the federal charges in February. Her husband Sandy, however, has not accepted a plea deal for federal charges and will go to court for his 76 federal charges.

Casey Parsons’s federal charges included one count of conspiracy to defraud the government, five counts of mail fraud, four counts of aiding in the preparation of a false tax return, four counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Despite her plea deal for federal charges, she faces 199 years in prison, and $3.75 million in fines.

They allegedly collected benefits for Erica between February 2010 and August 2013, despite Erica Parson’s disappearance. The federal government offers assistance to families who adopt children, including adoption assistance, Medicaid, Social Security, and Food and Nutrition benefits. Misuse or redirection of those funds constitutes a federal crime. Erica was last seen in November 2011, when she was 13 years old, but her disappearance was not reported until July 2013.

The Parsons reportedly have a history of problems with custody of Erica. When Erica was 6 years old, Casey Parsons took her to live with another family member. The family member told investigators that “they took custody of Erica for about 8 months after Casey Parsons called them and said she could not stand to look at Erica.” However, “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.”

“I feel like (the plea is) another step toward justice for Erica,” said Carolyn Parsons, Erica’s biological mother. “It’s not Erica by no means, but it’s a start toward getting some kind of justice.”

Although the Parsons face numerous federal charges for defrauding a government program, the couple so far does not face criminal charges connected with Erica’s disappearance. There is a $50,000 reward for information about Erica’s disappearance.

Prosecuting Federal Charges in South Carolina

If you or a loved one are the victims of a serious crime, including identity theft, kidnapping, or fraud, it is important that you take the person who hurt you to court – whether it is a federal criminal trial, or personal injury lawsuit. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm have been based in Columbia, SC for 16 years, and are also licensed to practice in Georgia and New York. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so do not hesitate to contact us for help. 803.252.4800.