HARRISBURG — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle), published as received.

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a Pike County man has been indicted by a grand jury in Harrisburg on multiple bankruptcy fraud and false statement charges.

According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, the Indictment alleges that Daniel Wise, age 55, filed three successive Chapter 13 bankruptcy petitions in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Middle District of Pennsylvania between August 2012 and November 2012 and that Wise failed to disclose his ownership of a $2.4 million promissory note in all three petitions.  The Indictment also alleges that Wise failed to disclose the fact he was actively engaged in litigation over the $2.4 promissory note in the State of New York at the time he filed his petitions.  All three bankruptcy petitions were eventually dismissed by the Bankruptcy court by March 2013.

If convicted, WISE could be sentenced to a maximum of five years imprisonment and a fined $100,000 on each count.

The case was investigated by the Scranton Office of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Kim Douglas Daniel.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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.

Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

 

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