After nearly two decades on the run, former Scottsdale resident Michael Wiseman, who was on the city's most wanted list for multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, has been arrested in France. As ABC15 reports, Wiseman fled the United States in 2008, shortly after his initial arrest, and has been evading international law enforcement.
Wiseman's criminal saga began in 2008 when Scottsdale Police initially apprehended him. Following his escape from the country, the FBI Phoenix field office obtained a federal arrest warrant. The arrest spree continued in Spain in 2009, after which he was extradited back to the U.S., pleaded guilty, and was sentenced for his crimes. However, Wiseman managed to flee again while on probation. According to AZFamily, this culminated in the recent Nov. 1 arrest in France under an alias, Robert Danilewski, after a trial that included stays in Vietnam and Poland.
The persistent efforts of the Scottsdale Police Criminal Intelligence Unit, in conjunction with various U.S. and international law enforcement agencies, helped pinpoint Wiseman's whereabouts. In a recent breakthrough, detectives gained access to his email and accounts, discovering new child sexual abuse content, which was reported to the Arizona Internet Crimes against Children Task Force and then to French authorities.
French law enforcement apprehended Wiseman in Kilstett, a town near the France-Germany border, charging him with rape and sexual assault of a minor under 15 years old. In a statement obtained by AZFamily, Scottsdale PD Chief Joe LeDuc expressed gratitude for the FBI's support and partnership, saying, "Nearly two decades ago, this individual fled from accountability. Our detectives never stopped working to bring him to justice. This arrest reflects years of persistence, teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to protecting children." Wiseman is currently being held by French authorities and is expected to be extradited to the United States at a later date.
Numerous agencies, including Scottsdale PD, AZ ICAC, FBI Phoenix Task Force, FBI Phoenix Border Liaison Office, Maricopa County Attorney's Office, FBI Legal Attaché in Paris, and the U.S. Embassy in France, worked in collaboration to bring Wiseman to custody. The arrest underscores a determined and coordinated effort to ensure that individuals like Wiseman are held accountable for their actions, regardless of the time that has passed or the distances they have attempted to put between themselves and the law.
