Westphalia Resident Gross Sentenced for Child Pornography

Council Bluffs, IA – A Shelby County resident has been handed a severe penalty for his despicable acts. Matthew E. Gross, 40 years of age and hailing from Westphalia, Iowa, was sentenced on April 11, 2017, by Chief United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey to serve 60 months in federal prison for receipt and possession of child pornography.

Gross pleaded guilty to two counts of child pornography charges on November 3, 2016. His crimes spanned from at least February 2014 to August 2014, with evidence suggesting he received images as early as that year. Authorities found additional pornographic material in his Westphalia home on September 25, 2014.

The investigation into Gross’s sordid activities was a joint effort between the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, ensuring justice was served.

United States Attorney Kevin E. VanderSchel announced the sentence, emphasizing the severity of Gross’s actions and the need to protect innocent children from such predators. Gross will also be subjected to five years of supervised release following his prison term, a measure intended to prevent any future illegal activities.

The community is encouraged to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity related to child exploitation. For more information on this case or how to report potential crimes, contact Rachel J. Scherle at 515-473-9300 or email her at Rachel.Scherle@usdoj.gov.