Woman, who faked serious illnesses, pleads guilty to five federal felonies

A woman who falsely claimed to suffer from breast cancer and genetic disorders to defraud nonprofits has pleaded guilty. 35-year-old Sarah A. Delashmit, of Highland, Illinois, appeared in federal district court this morning. She admitted her guilt on four counts of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud.

According to court documents, Delashmit falsely claimed that she was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) to attend Camp Summit. Camp Summit is a non-profit camp in Texas that serves individuals with disabilities. In October 2015 and March 2016, Camp Summit awarded Delashmit a spot as a camper based upon her misrepresentations.

Delashmit was also given over $2,500 in financial aid by Camp Summitt. Delashmit, while at the camp, confined herself to a wheelchair and pretended of needing assistance with most daily activities. However, Delashmit was fully able to walk and care for herself. Delashmit admitted in court that deserving people with real disabilities were prevented from attending the camp and receiving financial assistance due to her fraud.

Delashmit also admitted in her guilty plea that she posed as a breast cancer survivor to defraud the Young Survival Coalition (YSC). The YSC is a New York-based nonprofit organization that serves young adults diagnosed with cancer. In 2017 and 2018, Delashmit received over $1,000 in financial benefits and donated items from YSC.

Real cancer survivors were deprived of YSC’s limited resources due to Delashmit’s misrepresentations. Delashmit also admitted to fraudulently obtaining a $4,500 triathlon cycle through making false statements to a credit card company and an internet retailer. On Jan. 19, 2021 at 9:30 a.m., sentencing will be held at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois.