MANILA, Philippines — So, how does someone become a con artist? And why does it seem like they are glorified in films and series?
Recently, the latest con series that’s been a hit on Netflix is “Inventing Anna.” The series showcased the workings of the mind of German heiress Anna Delvey, who has a 60-million trust fund she’s about to receive from her wealthy parents after she turned 25 years old. Only there’s one little problem: none of it was ever true. Heck, her name’s not even Anna Delvey!
Anna Delvey was actually born Anna Sorokin in Moscow, Russia, who eventually moved to Germany in her teenage years. When she moved to New York as a young adult, she pretended her way to Manhattan’s socialite circle. She was able to scam her way into getting luxury hotel suites, flying in private planes, attending the most exclusive events, even loaning from prestigious banks– claiming she can wire the payments from her rich dad. Only her dad is not a billionaire like she claimed, but actually a truck driver, while her mom owns a convenience store.
So Anna Sorokin became Instagram famous for flaunting a very wealthy lifestyle, and a journalist named Rachel Deloache Williams from Vanity Fair was attracted to her Insta-fame and life, which led them to becoming friends. Of course, Rachel enjoyed the perks of having freebies and loots from hanging out with Anna, but when their trip to Morrocco went really bad, Rachel was forced to pay their trip using her credit card from work. And from there, all hell broke loose!
That's when it was discovered that Anna neither has a trust fund or billionaire parents, and in 2019, she was found guilty of eight charges, including grand larceny in the second degree, attempted grand larceny, and theft of services.
To cut the story short, Anna was able to pay Rachel, but from actually selling the rights to her life adaptation to Netflix for $320,000.
Last Tuesday, Anna is among the four plaintiffs who filed a case against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after she allegedly contracted COVID-19 because she was allegedly refused to be given a booster shot following multiple requests.
According to the lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Sorokin, 31, only received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine last April and tested positive for COVID-19 last mid-January.
Apart from experiencing "fever, persistent cough, nausea, migraines, and body aches," her lawyers said Anna "continued to experience lingering effects including fatigue, coughing, brain fog and shortness of breath" even after leaving quarantine last January 29.
Her legal counsel from ACLU said Anna "has several medical conditions that make her vulnerable to serious illness or death," and these comorbidities allegedly include "chronic kidney infection as well as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder."
ICE is yet to comment on the lawsuit, but assured that the agency follows safety protocols set by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Sorokin is now at the Orange County Correctional Facility in Goshen, New York for possible deportation. — Video edited by Philstar.com/Efigenio Toledo IV