Hopkins County Resident Indicted on Six Counts of Wire Fraud
Lewis Parsons is a self-described visionary and technological guru. Since descending on Hopkins County from Rockwall a couple of years ago, he has attempted to immerse himself into the fabric of all things Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County. From living in a loft apartment on Main street, to occupying the “Lowry Mansion” on I-30 in Saltillo. His list of business ventures and connections go on and on, but those connections and achievements generally only come from Parsons himself. The fact-checking of some of his accomplishments finally came to a head recently when the federal authorities got involved.
George Lewis Parsons Jr. was indicted by a grand jury and those charges were filed July 12, 2023 in The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas Sherman Division. The indictment highlights a scheme allegedly devised by Parsons to defraud investors as Parsons convinced investors to invest in companies owned by Parsons that the federal government has determined no viable company actually exists. The federal indictment alleges that Parsons diverted those funds to “support his lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of several vehicles, real estate, furniture, firearms, jewelry, and a hot tub, among other things of value.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation uncovered several wire transfers from potential investors to accounts owned or controlled by Parsons. Each of these wire transfers constitute a seperate charge of wire fraud. The amounts of each wire transfer range from $50,000 to $2,250,000, with the total of the six wire transfers listed in the indictment standing at $3 million.
- George Lewis Parsons was arrested on July 20, 2023 in Hopkins County and released the next day. According to the Eastern District Court of Texas a Pre-Trial Order was placed in the record on July 21, 2023 listing the upcoming dates as signed by Magistrate Judge Aileen Goldman Durrett.
- Plea Agreement Due by 4:00pm on 8/14/2023
- Final Pre-Trial Conference set for 9/5/2023 at 9:00am in Courtroom 105 (Plano) before District Judge Sean D. Jordan
Lewis Parsons lists his current occupation via Linkedin as “Founder – President – CEO” of a company called Broadcast Your Vision LLC in Rockwall, TX. The description of that company, also from Linkedin, is as follows: BCYV has developed a complete solution that allows enterprise level companies the ability to streamline their expansion, growth, and connect with their clients. Many companies will get to a point where the discussion revolves around how to build, engineer, and release an effective way to connect satellite locations, sales teams, support teams, and bring consistency to marketing channels. Parsons also lists on his Linkedin page under Education: North Mesquite, Vocational Education – Master of Taxidermy. His Linkedin profile can be found here: Lewis Parsons – Linkedin
The indictment filed July 12, 2023 also lists several assests including bank accounts, vehicles and other property that the federal government is attempting to seize or has already seized.
As with any indictment, the accused is innocent until proven guilty. Authorities from local agencies as well as federal agencies urges anyone that believes they may have been the victim of an investment scheme or any type of fraud should contact law enforcement. The Dallas office of the FBI can be reached at 972-559-5000 or you can contact them online: http://tips.fbi.gov/ For local help the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office can be reached at: 903-438-4040.
Dallas Couple Arrested After I-30 Traffic Stop
August 4, 2023 – A Dallas couple were arrested after a traffic stop on I-30 this week. AMARRHE RASHSON THOMPSON aka marrhe_peezy and NIEJEL DEVON LAKES were transported to Hopkins County Jail.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies noticed a Nissan Kicks traveling eastboard with an obscured licence plate. A traffic stop was initiated and the vehicle came to rest near the 122 mile marker.
Deputies nocted a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car. The occupants were asked to exit the vehicle, and a probable cause search was began.
Marijuana cigarette ends were found in the ashtray. A GLOCK 23 handgun was found under the driver’s seat. A Smith and Wesson M&P 9, reported stolen by Mesquite Tx Police, was found in the passenger’s purse. A backpack containing various narcotics was also found.
Both professed no knowledge of the drugs. Thompson stated that she had purchased the stolen handgun from someone but could not remember who. Both were arrested and transported to Hopkins County Jail.
The backpack contained: scales, marijuana, 99 blue M30 pills suspected to be Oxycontin which showed a total approximate weight of 10.82 grams and suspected MDMA tabs with a total approximate weight including packaging of 2.68 grams with a pill count of 6.
AMARRHE RASHSON THOMPSON, age 21, is charged with:
1 481.115(D) POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=4G<200G
1 481.116(C) POSS CS PG 2 >= 1G < 4G
1 31.03(E)(4)(C) THEFT OF FIREARM
NIEJEL DEVON LAKES, age 21, is charged with:
1 481.115(D) POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=4G<200G
1 481.116(C) POSS CS PG 2 >= 1G < 4G
1 46.02(B) UNL CARRYING WEAPON
Their bond was set at $45,000 each. The Nissan was impounded.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Crickets By Mario Villarino
Crickets are about 1″ long, dark brown to black with large hind legs used for jumping. Female crickets have a large, sword-like structure, the ovipositor, protruding from the tip of the abdomen. The ovipositor is an egg laying structure.
Crickets feed on plant material and other insects. They can cause damage to seedlings and be destructive to plants when in high numbers. Males can become a nuisance with their sounds (there’s always that one cricket chirping at night when you’re trying to sleep). Crickets can further become a nuisance when masses of them flock to lights at night or when piles of dead crickets form near doorways and other areas, causing a foul odor.
Cricket management is more easily accomplished in the summer months when nymphs, who cannot fly, are present (this is why I am writing this now!). Most people do not try to do anything about crickets until they are in the adult stage and in large numbers.
Before crickets invade your home try some of the following tips:
Turn off lights at night, direct lighting away from the structure or use yellow bulbs which are less attractive to insects. Seal cracks and crevices that give entrance to the structure with sealant. Remove debris that is stacked near the structure. Keep lawn and surrounding landscape tended. Stuff weep holes with copper mesh (this will allow air flow into the wall voids, but will reduce accessibility).
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885=3443 or email me at [email protected].
The Miller Grove FFA Hamburger Supper Will be Held August 21, 2023
The Annual Miller Grove FFA Hamburger Supper is scheduled to be held August 21st, 2023. The event will be held at the Miller Grove ISD AG Shop beginning at 6PM. You can expect hamburgers and games. Everyone is welcome.
How to Get That Free Burger Next Week
August 3, 2023 – National Whataburger Day is August 8. Locations nationwide will be giving away free burgers via the Official Whataburger App.
To make sure you get yours, install and update the app before the 8th. Download the Whataburger App on the App Store for iOS or get it on Google Play for Android. A coupons will appear in app that can be used just once.
If you are a ‘table tent’ collector, on August 8 they will be handing out limited quantities of inaugural National Whataburger Day table tents to Guests who visit in the restaurant.
‘Weed Farm Owner’ Arrested in Cumby
August 3, 2023 – Cumby Police clocked a vehicle traveling I-30 at 84 mph this week. The driver of the vehicle volunteered that he was a ‘Weed Farm Owner’ in Oklahoma.
EDWARD LEE HENDERSON, age 51 of McKinney Tx, was stopped by Cumby Police around 9am at mile marker 111. During a roadside interview, Henderson appeared nervous was was deceptive in his answers to questions. Henderson volunteered that he was a ‘Weed Farm Owner’ in Oklahoma. When asked if he had anything illegal in his car, he indicated that he had some THC gummies.
A probable cause search was performed on his vehicle. A pack of commercially produced THC gummies were found. Another partially consumed gummy was also found in the console. The total amount of THC was more than 45 grams.
Henderson was arrested and transported to Hopkins County Jail without incident. His Kia was impounded. Because of the proximity to a drug free zone, his charges were elevated. His bond is set at $35,000.
1 481.116(D) POSS CS PG 2 >= 4G < 400G DFZ
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Helpful Advice From Master Gardener David Wall
Zeolite comes from ancient volcanic eruptions. Later, materials (zeolite) leached out that can grab soil contaminants and odors, especially ammonia from synthetic fertilizers, which it grabs and slowly
releases. If a Zeolite packet has been used for a while, put it out in direct sunlight for a short time. It’ll release absorbed material and become ready to be reused. Packets also work very well in your house!
Fire ants seem to love okra flowers and pods. Put down a citrus spray, dried molasses or cinnamon to drive them away. Sevin is a severe pesticide that plays havoc with wasps, hornets, or bee pollinators.
Got grasshopper problems? Determine their direction of movement. On the garden entrance side, put down nolo bait (also called grasshopperbait, nosema and semi-spore). Results on adults are questionable, but it will kill young grasshoppers to at least two generations.
After preaching organics since 2012, it’s amazing to see how organic soil improvements result in healthy plants which can better defend themselves against pests and diseases.
All mole eradications are temporary, as another- family will soon move into the freed area! Some of the best treatments are hot pepper treatments with castor oil. Try garlic pepper plus 2 oz. of castor oil
per gallon of water. Talpirid in a primary run (house foundation, sidewalk, fence, etc.) works extremely well.
When mosquitos are around your house, simply opening the front door is an open invitation for them to enter. Two lemon grass plants, one on each side of the sidewalk near the front door, can be very effective.
Wasps and yellowjackets often crowd around a hummingbird feeder, preventing hummingbird access. This normally on feeders with downward facing feeding tubes, which have liquid at the tube entrance, thus allowing easy access. Feeders with vertical feeding tubes deny wasp access.
Dinner Bell Menu For August 9, 2023
Christus Mother Frances Hospital yearly sets goals to benefit the citizens of Sulphur Springs and Hopkins county. One of its goals is to improve food insecurity. To satisfy that goal Christus is a Community Partner giving monetary support to Dinner Bell five times a year. August 9 is its fourth appearance at the feeding ministry. Associates of the hospital further their commitment by preparing the food boxes and distributing them to the cars driving under the covered driveway on Church Street.
GRAB and GO with a meal from the distribution area under the covered driveway (porte cochere) on the Northeast corner of the First United Methodist Church campus starting around 10:30 on Wednesday.
MENU
Chicken Pasta Casserole
Oven Roasted Carrots
Garden Salad
Buttered French Bread Slices
Chocolate Chip Cake
BE CAREFUL AS THE PANDEMIC AND FLU ARE STILL IN OUR MIDST! WEAR MASKS WHERE REQUIRED! WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN! GET INOCULATED AND BOOSTED!
DINNER BELL CARES ABOUT YOUR HEALTH!!!
PJC Breaks Ground On New Training Facility in Greenville
Expanded workforce training opportunities for Hunt County were unveiled at the groundbreaking for a new facility at the Paris Junior College – Greenville Center on Tuesday, August 1. “This is an exciting day for all of us at Paris Junior College,” said Dr. Pamela Anglin, PJC President. “We’re very proud to be partnering with L-3Harris in a partnership where the sky’s the limit. This fall an apprenticeship program will begin with them, as well as a pre-apprenticeship program with Hunt County high schools for an airplane maintenance technician program.”
As she welcomed the large crowd, Anglin recognized members of the PJC Board of Regents present, including Josh Bray, Ginna Bowman, Curtis Fendley, and Dr. Linda Kapp; Hunt County Judge Bobby W. Stovall; Greenville Mayor Jerry Ransom, members of the Greenville Board of Development, staff of Balfour Beatty and Pfluger Architects, members of PJC staff and faculty, and representatives from Congressman Keith Self and U.S. Senator John Cornyn.
“We’re looking forward to enhancing our relationship with Greenville-Hunt County,” said Fendley, who chairs the PJC Board of Regents. “A high-quality trained workforce is paramount in any industrial development area. This facility will provide that for this community and we look forward to working with you and growing our relationship. We want to be here for you as we’ve been for the Paris region since 1924. We look forward to a long partnership with you.”
The new training facility will match the existing building’s exterior and be just over 23,000 square feet with four large bays housing four programs. The facility has been designed to match industry needs as those change over the years. The first four programs will include mechatronics, including an industrial maintenance apprenticeship in partnership with the Greenville Board of Development; HVAC and plumbing; electrician; and a new airframe maintenance program in its start-up phase. Plans are also in the works to expand the RN program in the existing Greenville Center building.
The PJC-Greenville Center is located at 6500 Monty Stratton Parkway. The new training facility will be built to the west of the existing building. For more information call 903-454-9333.
Lord’s Way COGIC Community Outreach 2023
The Annual Community Outreach provided by the Lord’s Way COGIC will be August 6, 2023. Stop by 806 Freeman St in Sulphur Springs to start getting your children ready for the 2023-2024 academic year.
