The contractor secured more than $3.5 million for the Texas RV park work. He spent it on art, on jewelry, said the sheriff

A Texas contractor has been arrested in connection with the theft of more than $3.5 million for failing to complete work on an RV park in Parker County, according to the sheriff’s office.

Parker County Sheriff Russ Authier said Zachary Dixon Parker, 43, began development work on Midway Meadows RV Park in March 2021, but he refused to complete it.

Sheriff’s investigators found that Parker used the victim’s funds to purchase numerous personal items, including jewelry, art, food, animals and heavy equipment, according to a press release from the Parker County Sheriff’s Office on Monday. Investigators also believe that Parker used the victim’s money for projects and debts for other clients that he created before starting the victim’s project.

Parker was arrested Friday on two counts of theft over $300,000.

Authier said additional charges are pending completion of the ongoing investigation.

Parker’s bail was set at $1.5 million and he remained in the Parker County Jail in Weatherford on Monday.

The victim reported that once Parker received the funds, the contractor ceased all communication and ignored requests to complete the project or return his money.

Investigators reviewed numerous documents, proposals, invoices, statements, bank statements and additional evidence in the case, concluding that Parker performed parts of the contract but ceased all work after raising more than $3.5 million.

The victim was forced to pay another contractor to complete the project.

Sheriff’s investigators also discovered that Parker had failed to pay the supplier for materials for the project, which had placed a lien on the victim’s development. Authorities determined that the invoice and drawdown were created by deception, as none of the funds went to the materials Parker claimed to use for the construction work.

The victim reported that although the work was paid for, no work was done after the initial clearing and excavation of the project.

Investigators reported that some projects in the offer were not noted on the invoices, but were promised to the victim in the original contract, meaning the victim overpaid for the initial work by $210,920. Sheriff’s investigators further stated that the total price of materials delivered and labor performed by Parker was valued at approximately $450,050.

After no contact from Parker, the victim contacted other companies to bid on completing the project, which was estimated at $2,910,675.73.

Sheriff’s investigators obtained grand jury subpoenas for Parker’s financial records, uncovering three bank accounts. One of the accounts belonging to Barbwire Oil & Gas LLC, connected directly to Parker, was the account into which the victim’s funds were deposited. In November, Parker’s balance in the account was zero. Investigators found that the two additional bank accounts belonging to Parker had balances of $601.92 and $55.26.

A background check of Parker dating back five years revealed that he was listed as either a director, director, executive member or member of at least 16 different LLCs in Texas. Most of these companies no longer exist.

During that time, Parker had at least 13 civil judgments rendered against him or the companies he represented. The judgments total more than $15 million.