‘Fake heiress’ Anna Sorokin’s first words at sentencing

Anna Sorokin, who’s facing jail time for scamming New York high society, had one thing to say in court following her sentencing.

Anna Sorokin wept in court as she was sentenced for posing as a billionaire heiress under the name of Anna Delvey.

Ms Sorokin, a German con artist, managed to swindle several high profile people, New York businesses and banks out of up to $US250,000 ($AU351,000).

Sorokin defrauded financial institutions and Manhattan celebrity circles into believing she had a fortune of about $US67 million ($A96 million) overseas that could cover her jetsetting lifestyle, high-end clothing and lavish hotel stays.

The 28-year-old falsely claimed her father was a diplomat or an oil baron, and falsified bank records and forged her identity to further the scam.

She was found guilty in April of theft of services and grand larceny, but rejected a plea deal.

On Thursday, at Manhattan Supreme Court, she was sentened to between four and 12 years in prison.

Right before the judge handed down the sentence, the 28-year-old told the court, “I apologise for the mistakes I made.”

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Anna Sorokin leaving court after sentencing. She defrauded celebrity circles in Manhattan and financial institutions into believing she had a fortune of about $67 million overseas. Picture: AP/Richard Drew

Anna Sorokin burst into tears during the sentencing on May 9, 2019. Picture: Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP

At the hearing, Judge Diane Kiesel heard Sorokin’s defence lawyers claim that she was simply trying to make it in New York, in the words of the Frank Sinatra song about the city.

But the judge remained unconvinced, saying the case instead reminded her of the Bruce Springsteen song, Blinded by the Light.

“She was blinded by the glitter and glamour of New York City,” said the judge during her sentencing.

Prior to the sentencing, Assistant District Attorney Catherine McCaw made a statement in support of a 4-to 12-year sentence, saying it “required a repeated commitment again and again” for Sorokin to claim she “had a phony fortune she did not in fact possess.”

McCaw said Sorokin has shown “almost no remorse” during the trial and took “more seriously her clothing than anything else.”

“The defendant didn’t want to live an ordinary life, and she was willing to steal in order to get that,” McCaw said.

Anna Delvey aka Anna Sorokin. Picture: Instagram

“This sentence should be a message to the defendant and any of her fans out there,” said Judge Kiesel. Picture: Instagram

Sorokin’s lawyer Todd Spodek initially argued for a lesser sentence, noting she’d already been incarcerated since 2017.

“This is not a career criminal,” he said, according to Buzzfeed.

“This is a young adult who made numerous mistakes. She was 25 years old and got way in over her head.”

Despite her financial woes, the image-conscious faux heiress hired celebrity stylist Anastasia Walker for the trial. Over the course of the trial, more than 7,000 people followed an “Anna Delvey Court Looks” Instagram page.

Fake German heiress Anna Sorokin sits smiling next to her lawyer Todd Spodek during her sentencing at Manhattan Supreme Court May 9, 2019. Picture: Timothy A. Clary/AFP

In addition to her sentencing, Ms Sorokin was also fined $US24,000 ($AU34,281) and ordered to pay restitution of about $US199,000 ($AU284,251).

Potentially, she could also be deported back to Germany.

How much time she will spend behind bars depends on factors such as her behaviour.

She was found not guilty on two other charges: one of two counts of attempted grand larceny, and one for allegedly stealing more than $US60,000 ($AU85,704) from a friend who footed the bill for a vacation in Morocco.