An Iowa man will spend time behind bars after defrauding his employer for over $140,000 by using company credit cards on Pokemon cards and video games.
34-year-old Mitch William Gross of Earling, Iowa, was sentenced on August 15 to four months in federal prison, according to a Department of Justice release. He was also ordered to pay back $146,590.15 in restitution and will serve three years of supervised release once his sentence ends.
Prosecutors said Gross defrauded his employer, Ruan Transportation Corporation, by misusing company credit cards between September 2021 and October 2022.
Four months in prison for $140K fraud
Gross bought prepaid gift cards, Pokemon trading cards, and gaming items, then disguised the purchases as legitimate business expenses. Ruan, a leader in the transportation and logistics industry, has no ties to Pokemon or gaming.
Court records show he submitted falsified receipts and deliberately “mischaracterized fraudulent charges” in order to conceal the scheme.
The FBI and Des Moines Police Department led the investigation. Federal officials noted that there is no parole in the federal system.
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