A Mississippi man who once built his public persona around illusion and sleight-of-hand is now headed to prison after an Iowa jury convicted him of multiple felony gaming charges tied to a casino fraud scheme.
Shaun Joseph Benward, 38, known professionally as “Shaun Mistery,” was found guilty on November 6, 2025, in Lyon County, Iowa. A judge later sentenced him to 10 years behind bars, with credit for time already served.
The charges stem from a 2018 investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s Special Enforcement Operations Bureau. Authorities said Benward carried out a series of fraudulent acts at Grand Falls Casino in Larchwood, Iowa, manipulating casino staff to obtain more than $10,000 in improper payouts.
Investigators said Benward broke up more than $12,000 in transactions to avoid federal IRS reporting requirements. According to court records, he changed outfits multiple times and used different casino tellers in an effort to avoid detection.
Benward was convicted on five counts of money laundering, five counts of cheating at gambling games, and one count of conspiracy to commit a felony.
Warrants were issued for his arrest in 2018, but authorities were unable to locate him for several years. He was eventually found in Mississippi in April 2025 and taken into custody.
Prosecutors described the Iowa case as part of a broader pattern of casino-related fraud allegations in other states.
The Special Enforcement Operations Bureau serves as the primary criminal investigative and enforcement agency for Iowa’s gaming industry.
The conviction brings an end to what authorities called a years-long effort to bring Benward to justice.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
