PHILADELPHIA, PA — Holly Sadowski, 37, a resident of Philadelphia, finds herself at the center of a serious legal battle following her arrest and indictment on charges of Social Security fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The charges, announced by United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero, stem from alleged actions taken by Sadowski to illicitly obtain Social Security benefits by concealing the death of a woman identified as E.W.
According to the indictment, E.W.’s remains were discovered buried beneath six to eight feet of concrete in the basement of a Philadelphia residence, believed to have been her home. E.W. was last seen alive in December 2012 and was a recipient of Disability Insurance Benefits from the Social Security Administration due to an intellectual disorder. DNA analysis confirmed the identity of the remains as E.W., with the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office and a forensic anthropologist concluding that she died from blunt trauma to the head and neck, labeling the death as homicide. It is estimated that E.W. died between four to ten years before her remains were found.
The indictment accuses Sadowski of accessing E.W.’s bank account to withdraw approximately $99,447.90 in Social Security benefits intended for the deceased, using E.W.’s personal information to continue the fraud. If convicted, Sadowski faces a potential sentence of up to 107 years in prison, alongside fines and supervised release conditions.
This case is being pursued following investigations by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General and the Philadelphia Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Curran and Laura J. Bradbury are leading the prosecution.
It is crucial to note that an indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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