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…