DES MOINES, Iowa – Mitch William Gross, 34, of Earling, Iowa, is trading in Pokemon cards for prison stripes. He was sentenced on August 15, 2025, to four months in federal lockup after pleading guilty to a brazen wire fraud scheme that cost his employer over $140,000.
Gross, a former employee of Ruan Transportation Corporation, wasn’t moving freight – he was moving money, directly into his own pockets. Between September 2021 and October 2022, court documents reveal, Gross systematically abused company credit cards, racking up charges for personal indulgences. Think prepaid gift cards, collectible Pokemon cards, and a steady stream of gaming-related purchases.
But this wasn’t a simple case of swiping the company card for a coffee run. Gross went to lengths to cover his tracks, meticulously falsifying receipts and mischaracterizing the fraudulent charges on his expense reports. He attempted to disguise personal spending as legitimate business expenses, hoping to fly under the radar. It didn’t work.
The scale of the fraud is staggering. Over the course of a year, Gross’s deceitful actions totaled over $140,000. The Feds weren’t buying the altered expense reports, and the investigation quickly uncovered the scheme. Now, Gross will have plenty of time to reflect on his choices – behind bars.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa announced the sentencing. But prison isn’t the only price Gross will pay. Upon release, he’ll be subjected to a three-year term of supervised release – a constant reminder of his crime. And he’s been ordered to pay $146,590.15 in restitution, meaning he’ll be chipping away at the debt for years to come.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Des Moines Police Department jointly investigated the case, proving that even seemingly small-time fraud will be pursued. Federal authorities remind us that there’s no parole in the federal system; Gross will serve his full sentence. This case serves as a stark warning: corporate theft, no matter the motivation, will be met with federal prosecution.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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