A suspected child predator who had been on the run for nearly twenty years was apprehended in France, thousands of miles away from his home base, by the Scottsdale Police Department in Arizona. Michael Wiseman, facing multiple charges of sexually exploiting minors, had become the department’s “second most wanted fugitive” since a case was opened against him in 2008.
After fleeing the US by removing his court-ordered monitoring ankle bracelet, Wiseman was captured in France with the help of the FBI. He had evaded capture by traveling through Vietnam to Poland before settling in Kilstett under the alias Robert Danilewski.
Following Wiseman’s escape, several nationwide arrest warrants were issued, including charges for probation violations related to sexual exploitation of minors, escape, and failure to register as a sex offender. Despite being previously apprehended by the FBI in Spain in 2009 and extradited to the US for sentencing in 2012, Wiseman absconded once more while on probation.
In a joint effort, Scottsdale’s Criminal Intelligence Unit and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office facilitated an arrest warrant through the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, leading to Wiseman’s location in Kilstett. Detectives uncovered incriminating evidence on Wiseman’s personal accounts, including videos depicting child sexual abuse, which were handed over to the Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit.
Subsequently, French authorities charged Wiseman with the rape and sexual assault of a minor under 15 years old, resulting in his arrest. While in custody in France, preparations are underway for his extradition to the US. Scottsdale Police Department Chief Joe LeDuc commended the relentless efforts of the investigative team, emphasizing the commitment to safeguarding children and acknowledging the invaluable partnership with the FBI in bringing Wiseman to justice.
