Highland Woman Indicted After Falsely Claiming To Have Breast Cancer and Muscular Dystrophy

A federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois has returned an eight-count indictment

charging Sarah A. Delashmit, 35, of Highland, Illinois, with wire fraud, mail fraud, and aggravated

identity theft. Delashmit is accused of falsely claiming she had breast cancer and genetic

disorders to receive financial assistance and other benefits.

According to the indictment, Delashmit falsely claimed she was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy

and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) to attend Camp Summit, a nonprofit camp serving individuals with

disabilities located in Texas. The indictment further alleges that while at Camp Summit, Delashmit

impersonated an individual with disabilities by confining herself to a wheelchair and pretending to

need assistance with most daily activities, such as getting dressed and bathing, despite being

fully able to walk and care for herself.

In addition, the indictment alleges that Delashmit falsely claimed she was a breast cancer survivor

to go on a trip and receive donated items through the Young Survival Coalition (YSC), a nonprofit

organization serving young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer based in New York. Delashmit

is also accused of making false statements to a credit card company and an internet retailer to

obtain a triathlon bicycle valued at $4,499.00 without paying for it.

Delashmit is due in federal court for her initial appearance on March 24, 2020, at 10:00am. A trial

date has not been set. If convicted, Delashmit faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the mail

fraud and wire fraud charges. The aggravated identity theft charges each carry a mandatory sentence

of two years imprisonment.

An indictment merely is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed

to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a

jury.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Postal Inspection Service. The case is

being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke J. Weissler.