Iowa man sentenced for $140K fraud on Pokémon cards and video games with company credit card

An Iowa man has been sentenced to prison after defrauding his employer of more than $140,000 by using company credit cards to purchase Pokémon trading cards, prepaid gift cards, and video games.

According to a Department of Justice release, 34-year-old Mitch William Gross of Earling, Iowa, was given a four-month federal prison sentence. He was also ordered to pay $146,590.15 in restitution and will serve three years of supervised release following his imprisonment.

Prosecutors said Gross carried out the fraud while working for Ruan Transportation Corporation, a transportation and logistics company with no connection to Pokémon or gaming.

Between September 2021 and October 2022, he used corporate credit cards to make unauthorised purchases, disguising them as legitimate business expenses.

Court filings revealed that Gross submitted falsified receipts and deliberately misrepresented charges in an effort to conceal his actions.

The FBI and Des Moines Police Department conducted the investigation, which led to the conviction. Officials also noted that the federal system does not allow parole, meaning Gross will serve the full sentence imposed.

This case adds to a growing list of incidents where Pokémon cards have been linked to financial crimes.

Earlier this year, authorities in Singapore sentenced a company executive who obtained $500,000 from his employer under false pretences, later spending the funds on Pokémon cards, electronics, and holidays.