Gross pleads guilty, sentencing slated for Oct. 28

A Republic man who worked with SW. Missouri taxing districts has pleaded guilty to stealing and receiving stolen property by diverting sales tax monies from taxing districts in Joplin and Neosho.

Now 65-year-old Darrell Gross could wind up in prison for up to seven years if he fails to pay restitution for over $176,000 he stole from his clients.

Gross,the owner of Gross and Associates out of Republic, Mo, will be formally sentenced on Oct. 28.

Gross worked for developers to make recommendations on whether development projects could receive public assistance from tax collections.

The collections would come from so called T.I.F. (tax increment financing) areas and other funds for community improvement and transportation development.

He pleaded guilty to several charges, including the theft of $176,635 from the Hope Valley Community Improvement District in Joplin.

Those funds were intended to go to the redevelopment of an area near 44th and Range Line that had been designated as a center for business, retail and office businesses.

The investigation into that C.I.D. began after Gross faced charges resulting from taking checks Neosho’s Big Spring Community Improvement District.