Fake heiress Anna Sorokin released to house arrest, fights deportation to Germany
- Sorokin, who used the name Anna Delvey, was convicted in 2019 of conning US$275,000 from banks, hotels and wealthy New Yorkers to finance her luxury lifestyle
- After three years in prison, Sorokin was released last year, then detained by US immigration. They say she has overstayed her visa and must return to Germany
Fake socialite and convicted swindler Anna Sorokin, whose scheme inspired a Netflix series, has been released from US immigration custody to house arrest, immigration officials and her spokesperson said.
Sorokin is on home confinement in New York City, said her spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer.
“Anna now has her opportunity to demonstrate her commitment to growing and giving back and being a positive impact on those she meets,” Engelmayer said in a statement. “She has hurdles before her, and she will navigate them with strength and determination, using her experiences and lessons learned.”
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed her release. Sorokin, 31, is fighting deportation to Germany.
She was convicted in 2019 of conning US$275,000 from banks, hotels and wealthy New Yorkers to finance her luxury lifestyle.
Using the name Anna Delvey, she passed herself off as the daughter of a German diplomat, or an oil baron, and lied about having a US$67 million bankroll overseas to create the impression that she could cover her debts, prosecutors said.
Her trial lawyer said she simply got in over her head as she tried to start a private arts club and had planned to pay up when she could.