Scottsdale’s 2nd most wanted fugitive, an accused pedophile at large for 17 years, arrested in France

PHOENIX — A fugitive who pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor and evaded law enforcement multiple times over 17 years has finally been arrested, the Scottsdale Police Department announced Friday.

Michael Wiseman was arrested in France on Nov. 1 in connection with a 2008 abuse case originating in Scottsdale, police said.

Wiseman had previously cut off his ankle monitor and fled the U.S. while under court-ordered supervision. However in 2009, Wiseman was arrested in Spain and extradited to the U.S., where he pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of second-degree escape and was sentenced in 2012.

However, he fled the country again while out on probation.

For years, Wiseman was listed as Scottsdale Police Department’s second most wanted fugitive. During that time, he reportedly lived in Vietnam and Poland before settling in Kilstett, France.

But according to police, his alleged criminal activity extended far beyond the Valley.

Wiseman now faces charges in France for the rape and sexual assault of his adopted child, who is a minor under the age of 15, police said.

The charges are in relation to videos that were legally obtained and allegedly show the child being sexually assaulted by Wiseman, according to police.

Wiseman remains in custody in France as local authorities pursue prosecution. He will be extradited to the U.S. afterward.

“Nearly two decades ago, this individual fled from accountability,” Scottsdale Police Chief Joe LeDuc said in a Friday announcement. “Our detectives never stopped working to bring him to justice. This arrest reflects years of persistence, teamwork and an unwavering commitment to protecting children.”

The 50-year-old Scottsdale fugitive worked as a private pilot in the past. During his many years evading law enforcement, Wiseman used the alias Robert Danilewski.

How did authorities track down second most wanted Scottsdale fugitive?

Wiseman’s early November arrest is the result of teamwork between Scottsdale police, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, the FBI Phoenix field office and French authorities.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for Wiseman’s email, citing his active warrants and a charge for fleeing, to determine his whereabouts.

In late October 2025, authorities accessed his personal account which is when they discovered the sexual abuse material involving his adopted child, police said.

The FBI Phoenix office contacted French authorities to report the alleged abuse, leading to his Nov. 1 arrest, according to FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke.

“The FBI and our law enforcement partners will never stop chasing predators who harm children – no matter where across the globe they try to hide or for how long they live in the shadows,” Janke said. “When the most vulnerable among us — our children — are victimized, we will always ensure we do everything in our power to protect them and get predators such as this off the street.”

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