Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
Andrew Gross, a 42-year-old resident of Sioux City, Iowa, pleaded guilty in federal court on September 11, 2025, to possession of child pornography. The plea was entered in Sioux City.
During the plea hearing, Gross acknowledged that between April 1 and May 14, 2024, he received and possessed child pornography. According to information presented in court, Sioux City Police began investigating after the parents of a 15-year-old reported sexual conversations between their child and Gross. The investigation found that Gross and the minor exchanged sexually explicit messages and photographs of the victim. Gross also admitted to possessing other images and videos depicting child pornography. In addition, he had previously been convicted in Minnesota in 2021 for offenses related to aggravated sexual abuse involving a minor.
Sentencing will take place before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand once a presentence report is completed. Gross remains detained by the United States Marshal until sentencing. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and up to twenty years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and at least five years of supervised release after imprisonment.
The prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies. Project Safe Childhood aims to prosecute offenders who exploit children and identify victims. Additional information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc. Resources for Internet safety education are also available at this site under the “resources” tab.
