Philadelphia woman charged with Social Security fraud after remains of victim found buried in concrete
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.
- Philadelphia woman charged with Social Security fraud after remains of victim found buried in concrete
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.
- Huntington Beach man pleads guilty to planning and participating in riots at political rallies
LOS ANGELES — A former Huntington Beach resident with ties to a white supremacist extremist group pleaded guilty today to conspiring to incite violence at political rallies across California. Robert Paul Rundo, 34, admitted to one count of conspiracy to violate the federal Anti-Riot Act, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Rundo was linked to the “Rise Above Movement” (RAM), a group that promoted white supremacy and nationalist ideology through violent confrontations at rallies. Between March 2017 and May 2018, Rundo and other RAM members organized and engaged in violent acts at political events, including rallies in Huntington Beach, Berkeley, and San Bernardino.
“This defendant sought to incite riots to promote a white-supremacist agenda and impede the constitutional rights of others,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “Safeguarding civil rights goes to the core of my office’s mission and we will continue to unite with our community against those who promote hate and divisiveness.”
Rundo and other RAM members underwent hand-to-hand combat training in preparation for the violent clashes. They organized the sessions via phone calls, social media, and text messages, and shared photos and videos of themselves engaging in violence, often with the hashtag “#rightwingdeathsquad.”
At a rally in Huntington Beach on March 25, 2017, Rundo tackled and repeatedly punched a protester, later celebrating the assault online with his co-conspirators. On April 15, 2017, at a rally in Berkeley, Rundo and others crossed a police barrier to attack protesters, punching and kicking multiple people. They later posted photos and videos of the assaults on social media. Similar violence occurred at a June 10, 2017, rally in San Bernardino.
“Mr. Rundo’s cowardly and unprovoked acts of violence were unjustly carried out upon his victims, leaving those who were victimized, their families, and our community torn by hate,” said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.
Rundo is scheduled to be sentenced on December 13, where he faces up to five years in federal prison.
- South Florida attorney charged with embezzling client funds, faces wire fraud and money laundering charges
MIAMI — A disbarred South Florida attorney has been charged in federal court with wire fraud and money laundering after allegedly embezzling approximately $650,000 from a client’s estate, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri.
John Spencer Jenkins, 54, formerly of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was indicted on charges that he misappropriated $643,399.35 intended for the heirs of a deceased client. As detailed in the indictment, Jenkins was entrusted with managing the funds through his legal firm’s Interest on Trust Account (IOTA). Instead of distributing the money to the decedent’s heirs, Jenkins allegedly funneled the funds into his firm’s account for personal use and then laundered the money through another account.
Jenkins was arrested yesterday in Philadelphia, Pa., and is scheduled to appear at an initial hearing today at 1:30 p.m. before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Philadelphia.
Jenkins faces three counts of wire fraud, each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and three counts of money laundering, which could result in up to 10 years per count. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors if Jenkins is convicted.
The FBI conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller is handling the prosecution.