Jury convicts Sandy Parsons for embezzlement, mail fraud

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The father of a missing Rowan County teenager will go to prison after a federal jury convicted him on 43 criminal counts.

The jury deliberated for less than five hours before reading the verdict Monday afternoon, finding Sandy Parsons guilty of fraud, conspiracy and identity theft.

BREAKING: Sandy Parsons guilty on most of 43 counts @wsoctv

— Kathryn Burcham (@BurchamWSOC9)

"Every time you put your fate in the hands of a jury, it's a little bit of a roll of the dice," said John Bryson, Sandy Parsons' defense attorney.

Over two days of trial, prosecutors argued Sandy and his wife, Casey Parsons, collected thousands of dollars in state and federal benefits by illegally using the name of their adopted daughter, Erica Parsons.

SPECIAL SECTION: Erica Parsons' case

Erica Parsons disappeared from the Parsons' Salisbury home in November 2011, but her parents continued to cash adoption assistance payments for the next two years and never reported her missing.

Sandy Parsons' attorney argued that Casey was the mastermind of the scheme and that Sandy had no knowledge of household finances, including the false claims. 

TIMELINE: Erica Parsons case

Despite Sandy taking the stand in his own defense, jurors did not believe his attorney's argument.

"We just came to a unanimous decision, and we were fair," one juror told Channel 9.

Neither Sandy nor Casey commented on the verdict while leaving the courthouse.

Sandy will be sentenced on Feb. 18 and could face life in prison.

Follow Kathryn Burcham on Twitter for updates.

Read more from the trial:

• Sandy Parsons' lawyer doesn't want jurors to hear of abuse allegations
• Jury selection to begin Tuesday in Sandy Parsons trial
• Jury chosen in Sandy Parsons fraud, ID theft trial
• Jury in Parsons' fraud case to reconvene Monday

WSOC