The so-called 'Soho Grifter' had her day in court, and could now be facing up to 15 years behind bars.
After swindling a lot of rich marks, con artist Anna Sorokin will soon be heading to prison.
Sorokin, a grifter and fabulist who posed as a German heiress to live a life of luxury among the upper crust of Manhattan's elite, has been convicted on multiple charges including second-degree grand larceny and theft of services, among other charges.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. announced the news of the conviction Thursday afternoon,
Sorokin, a Russian immigrant from a middle class family, built her fake life in New York City, where she used her cunning and charm to con friends, banks and even an executive in charge of a private jet company out of over $250,000 in cash, goods and services, according to multiple high-profile reports on the complex story.
Posing as a fictional heiress, Anna Delvey, Sorokin ingratiated herself into the upper echelon of the New York social circle and talked her new friends into taking her on vacations to exotic locales and tricked hotels into letting her stay for free night after night.
After the true breadth of her manipulation was revealed, and exposed in a celebrated article by Jessica Pressler in New York Magazine titled, "How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People," Sorokin's fame and public profile increased even more.
It was announced last June that TV producer Shonda Rhimes, in her first slate of shows in her partnership with Netflix, had acquired the rights to the New Yorker Article, and is in production on a series detailing Sorokin's high-life duplicity.
However, despite the severity of the charges against her, Sorokin reportedly used the public platform of the courtroom to continue to develop her public image and promote her personal brand, specifically with her fashion statements.
According to an article in Elle, Sorokin didn't shy away from the nature of the crimes she was on trial for, and instead employed the styling help of former Glamour magazine staffer Anastasia Walker, who decked her out in Michael Kors gowns and other various high-profile designer outfits, which even caused delays in the court proceedings as Sorokin struggled with so-called fashion mishaps during the trial.
"As proven at trial, Anna Sorokin committed real white-collar felonies over the course of her lengthy masquerade,” said DA Vance in a release regarding the case. “I thank the jury for its service in this complex trial, as well as my office’s prosecutors and investigators for their meticulous investigation and resolve to ensure that Sorokin faces real justice for her many thefts and lies.”
While her conviction will likely prove to be a fascinating development in Rhimes' take on Sorokin's unique story, the 28-year-old con artist -- who was found guilty on charges of attempted grand larceny in the first degree, grand larceny in the second degree, grand larceny in the third degree, and theft of services -- will now face a sentencing hearing on May 9, where she could face up 15 years behind bars.
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