PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia woman has been indicted on charges of Social Security fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft for allegedly concealing the death of a woman and stealing nearly $100,000 in Social Security benefits, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero.
Holly Sadowski, 37, was arrested following an indictment that accuses her of fraudulently accessing the Social Security disability benefits of a deceased woman, identified as E.W., whose remains were discovered buried beneath six to eight feet of concrete in the basement of a Philadelphia home. E.W. had last been seen alive around December 12, 2012.
During her lifetime, E.W. received Disability Insurance Benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) due to an intellectual disorder. The indictment alleges that after E.W.’s death, Sadowski accessed the victim’s bank account and continued to steal Social Security payments totaling approximately $99,447.90.
DNA testing confirmed that the remains found in the concrete were those of E.W., and a forensic examination determined that she had died from blunt trauma to the head and neck. The Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office, along with a forensic anthropologist, concluded that E.W. had likely died between four and ten years before her remains were recovered.
Sadowski is accused of using E.W.’s personal information, including her name, date of birth, and Social Security number, to continue receiving the deceased woman’s Social Security payments. According to the indictment, Sadowski fraudulently converted these benefits for her own personal use.
If convicted, Sadowski faces up to 107 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1.75 million fine, and a $700 special assessment.
The case highlights ongoing efforts to combat Social Security fraud and protect the integrity of federal benefit programs.
