Former Penn State Employee Pleads Guilty to Federal Wire Fraud Charge

A former Penn State employee has pleaded guilty to defrauding the university of more than $267,000 over the course of 12 years, federal prosecutors said on Thursday.

Daniel P. Sickels, 48, of Lewistown, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He was indicted in December 2020.

From April 2005 through July 2017, Sickels used his position as network and systems manager for Penn State’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations to purchase with university funds equipment he falsely claimed was necessary to upgrade, replace or maintain servers, U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam said. Sickels subsequently sold the equipment for his personal benefit to third parties out of state, including in California and Wyoming, using email to communicate with the buyers.

The case was investigated by Penn State and the FBI.

Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, though federal sentencing guidelines in Sickels’ case recommend a term of 27 to 33 months, according to the plea agreement. Sickels also faces a fine of twice the gross gain or loss and three years of supervised release when he is sentenced.

He has agreed to pay $267,264.87 in restitution.