Mifflin County Man Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud

WILLIAMSPORT – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Daniel P. Sickels, age 48, of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann to wire fraud. 

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Sickels previously worked as a Network and Systems Manager at Pennsylvania State University (PSU) Office of Development and Alumni Relations (ODA), located in State College, PA.  Sickels fraudulently acquired equipment through false representations to PSU ODA that the equipment was necessary to upgrade, replace, or maintain PSU ODA servers, when, in fact, Sickels knew that the equipment was not necessary.  Sickels subsequently sold the equipment for his personal benefit to third parties. The scheme lasted from approximately 2005 to 2017, in Centre and Mifflin Counties.  

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

Sickels faces maximum penalties of 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of twice the gross gain or loss, and 3 years of supervised release when he is sentenced. Sickels also agreed to pay $267,264.87 in restitution. 

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

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