Anna Sorokin, known as Anna Delvey, became a tabloid sensation after she was arrested for conning high society circles in New York City, pretending to be a German heiress worth millions. Her elaborate scams, including a $275,000 theft, and her dramatic trial made her a media spectacle.
Anna Sorokin chose the name Anna Delvey because she wanted to create a new, glamorous persona. She made it up, saying it was more appealing than her real name, Sorokin.
As a German citizen, Anna Sorokin needed to leave the U.S. every three months to reset her visa. Instead of returning to Germany, she suggested trips to warm destinations like Morocco to maintain her lavish lifestyle.
Rachel Deloach Williams agreed to pay for Anna Delvey's hotel bill in Morocco because she believed Anna was a wealthy heiress and had no reason to suspect Anna's financial situation. The bill was over $60,000, and Anna claimed her credit cards were blocked due to travel.
Anna Sorokin rejected a plea bargain of three to nine years in prison because she wanted to go to trial to tell her story. She felt it was the only way to present her side of the events and believed she could be acquitted.
Anna Sorokin struck a Netflix deal while in prison to profit from her story and gain financial support. The deal was worth over $300,000, but due to New York state law, the money had to be used to pay back her victims first.
Anna Sorokin continued to use social media after her release from prison to maintain her Anna Delvey persona and attract attention. She was active on Instagram, posting pictures of her lavish lifestyle, which suggested she had not learned from her past mistakes.
Anna Sorokin ended up in trouble with immigration after her release because she was indiscreet and continued her high-profile lifestyle on social media. When she showed up to her immigration appointment, she was apprehended and placed in detention.
Anna Sorokin is fighting deportation to Germany because she does not want to return to Europe. She aims to reinvent herself and continue her life in New York, where she believes she has a better chance of a comeback.
The jury acquitted Anna Sorokin of the most serious charge of attempting to steal a million dollars from a bank because they found the evidence inconclusive or were sympathetic to her story. The mixed verdict suggests the jury had doubts about some aspects of the prosecution's case.
How Anna Sorokin, known as the "Soho Grifter", had fascinated the world and had conned the highest social circles into believing she was a German heiress worth millions; featuring an interview with Sorokin, following her release from prison
Originally aired: 10/01/2021
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