OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 10:11 AM PT – Friday, April 26, 2019
A New York woman posing as an heiress is found guilty of multiple felonies for stealing almost $300,000.
Anna Sorokin was convicted by a New York jury Thursday for what some call the scam of the summer. The migrant left Germany as Anna Sorokin, the daughter of a Russian truck driver, and landed in the U.S. as Anna Delvey — a fraudulent heiress with a $60 million trust fund.
From November 2016 to August 2017, the young woman’s masquerade as a German heiress granted her access to luxurious hotels, private jet planes, and New York City’s hottest night clubs. Armed with clever lies, an inflated self-confidence and false documents, Sorokin managed to climb to the top of New York’s social ladder.
The court charged the fake heiress with grand larceny for attempting to obtain a $22 million dollar loan to build an upscale night club on Park Avenue. In order to afford her lifestyle, Sorokin convinced a number of banks to loan her thousands of dollars. She promised to wire the payments, but the banks said they never received the money.
Sorokin also reportedly conned a friend out of $62,000 after inviting her to a luxury resort in Morocco. When Sorokin’s card got declined, she convinced her friend to use her card after promising to pay her back. When the payment never came, the friend went to the police.
Anna Sorokin leaves the courtroom during jury deliberations in her trial at New York State Supreme Court, in New York, Thursday, April 25, 2019. Sorokin, who claimed to be a German heiress, is on trial on grand larceny and theft of services charges. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Sorokin’s lawyer — Todd Spodek — said the socialite was trying to create her own opportunities, and planned to pay everyone back.
“I do not believe she had the intent to ever commit a crime,” he stated. “Whether she owes people money — that’s a fact of life, that’s the reality of doing business in New York.”
Sorokin faces 15-years in prison, and will be sentenced in early May. The fake heiress sold her life story to Netflix, but due to the conviction the payment will go to a victim’s fund.
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