Iowa Man Sentenced for Fraud Over Pokemon Cards

An Iowa man has been sentenced to four months in federal prison for wire fraud, having scammed over $140,000 through the purchase of Pokemon cards and other gaming items using illegally charged company credit cards.

Mitch William Gross, who is 34, misused credit cards issued by his employer, Ruan Transportation Corporation, to fund his personal expenses. This included buying prepaid gift cards, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

In an attempt to cover his tracks, Gross submitted forged receipts and misrepresented fraudulent claims as legitimate business expenses in his expense reports.

Following his prison term, Gross will be under supervised release for three years and is responsible for paying back $146,590.15 in restitution.

This incident isn’t an isolated one when it comes to the world of Pokemon cards and crime. Recently, a chaotic scene at a Costco in California involved adults fighting over special sets of 151 Blooming Waters Premium Collection Packs, which initially retailed between $120 and $150 but were being sold at discount stores for $60.

Additionally, last month, a rare Pokemon card valued at over $100,000 was stolen from a small store in Massachusetts, with the burglar using a hammer to break open a display case. No arrests have been reported in that incident.

Since its debut in 1996 with video games in Japan, Pokemon has soared in popularity, evolving into trading cards, animated series, and films. The franchise’s iconic character, Pikachu—a small, mouse-like creature that unleashes lightning when provoked—has captured the hearts of many.

Interestingly, in 2022, YouTuber Logan Paul purchased the most expensive Pokemon card ever sold for a whopping $5.275 million.