Anna Sorokin, a Russian national who swindled the upper crust of New York City and was known by the name “Anna Delvey,” was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison Thursday.
“I am stunned by the depth of the defendant’s deception,” Justice Diane Kiesel said in the sentencing in State Supreme Court in Manhattan.
Sorokin’s attorney, Todd Spodek, called the sentence “draconian,” adding that his client had not committed a violent crime, according to the New York Times. During the trial, Spodek argued that Sorokin was simply hoping to make it in the big city — and with an upcoming Netflix show about the debacle set to be produced by Shonda Rhimes, Sorokin might get her wish.
The con artist had tried to negotiate a lease with Aby Rosen’s RFR Holding at 281 Park Avenue South , and used a $100,000 line of credit from City National to try to obtain a $25 million loan from Fortress. But she backed out when Fortress decided to check up on the source of her funds in Switzerland.
Sorokin also racked up nearly $250,000 in legal fees from Gibson Dunn, Perkins Coie and Lowenstein Sandler.
Before she was sentenced, Sorokin made one last appeal to the court.
“I apologize for the mistakes I made.”
Sorokin was also fined $24,000 and will have to pay back about $199,000. Sorokin will be deported to Russia after she completes her sentence. [NYT] — Georgia Kromrei