Former Pike County Man Sentenced For False Bankruptcy Declarations

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Daniel Wise, age 55, formerly of Tafton, Pennsylvania, currently residing in New York, NY, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge James M. Munley in Scranton, to 2 years’ probation and 100 hours’ community service, for making false declarations in bankruptcy proceedings.   Judge Munley also ordered Wise to pay a $30,000 fine.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Wise filed three Chapter 13 bankruptcy petitions in the Middle District of Pennsylvania between August 14 and November 21, 2012.  An indictment returned on October 14, 2015, alleged that Wise intentionally failed to reveal his ownership of a $2.4 million promissory note and that he was actively engaged in litigation over the note in New York.  Under bankruptcy law, he was required to make those disclosures in his bankruptcy petitions.  

On July 13, 2016, Wise pleaded guilty in a proceeding before Judge Munley.  He admitted that he made false declarations in connection with the bankruptcy petition filed on November 21, 2012.  He further admitted to making false sworn declarations during a January 14, 2013, creditors’ meeting.  Wise’s bankruptcy petitions were eventually dismissed on March 13, 2013.

The case was investigated by the Scranton Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kim Douglas Daniel.

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