Daniel P. Sickels, Wire Fraud, Pennsylvania 2023

A Mifflin County man has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for his role in a wire fraud scheme that spanned over a decade.

According to court documents, Daniel P. Sickels, 49, of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann for wire fraud. Sickels was also ordered to pay $267,264.87 in restitution.

The scheme, which lasted from approximately 2005 to 2017, involved Sickels, who was a Network and Systems Manager at Pennsylvania State University’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations, fraudulently acquiring equipment through false representations to the university.

Sickels claimed the equipment was necessary to upgrade, replace, or maintain PSU ODA servers, when, in fact, he knew that the equipment was not necessary. He subsequently sold the equipment for his personal benefit to third parties.

The matter was investigated by investigators at PSU and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin prosecuted the case.

Sickels’ actions resulted in significant financial losses for the university. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and oversight in preventing such schemes.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced the sentencing, emphasizing the need for accountability in such cases.

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