One of Jeff and Bree Parsons’ wedding photos, depicting the family on the beach. Photos by Colindres Photography.
When last we heard from Jeffrey Parsons, he was in a Texas courtroom, winning a fight to keep financial records from the prying eyes of the Internal Revenue Service, which figures all might not be kosher with a man who left Springfield three years ago after declaring bankruptcy and leaving millions of dollars in bills, court judgments and assorted other obligations unpaid.
Parsons, who now calls the Lone Star State home, might yet be in a pickle, given that he’s under criminal investigation by the U.S. attorney’s office in Springfield – that’s why the judge in Texas allowed him to plead the Fifth and withhold records from the IRS. But even a guy who spread rubber checks from coast to coast, stiffing customers, vendors, employees, the tax man and myriad others, deserves a party. And Parsons, who purportedly made and lost a fortune from buying and selling precious metals, appeared to have a pretty good time last weekend when he got hitched on the beach in Galveston.
It was the Fourth of July weekend, and Parsons, dressed in a red, white and blue sport coat that would put a fireworks show to shame, certainly looked like a Yankee Doodle Dandy as he exchanged vows last Saturday with his bride Bree, who has a criminal history that includes a theft conviction that brought her two years in the pokey back in 2011 (the reported loss ran into the six figures). The star-spangled wedding party also wore red, white and blue. Talk about pizzazz, or a crime of fashion. Take your pick.
“Sun And Sand And A Ring On My Hand,” read a t-shirt worn by the beaming bride prior to the ceremony.
And what a ring it is. Jen Parsons, the groom’s daughter, posted a picture of the engagement ring on Instagram that bursts with a rock that’s nothing short of massive.
“My step momma got a FINE ASS RING,” boasted Jen, who also informed the curious that the couple will be honeymooning in Hawaii, which came as a Mother’s Day surprise to the future wife.
The nuptials featured the obligatory multi-tiered wedding cake, a hired photographer, plus a watermelon infused with liquor and, of course, lots of bottled booze. Woo hoo!
Parsons pleaded poverty last year in convincing U.S. District Court Judge Richard Mills to set monthly payments at $500 to make good on a $12.3 million judgment won by former employees who say they were cheated out of wages. He’s due in Mills’ courtroom next week to determine whether his circumstances have changed sufficiently to merit a change in monthly payments.
Parsons could not be reached for comment. Dan Fultz, his attorney, had little to say.
“While I was not aware that Mr. Parsons had gotten married until you told me, I’m not aware that he violated any laws by doing so,” Fultz said.
Contact Bruce Rushton at brushton@illinoistimes.com.
This article appears in Jun 30 – Jul 6, 2016.
