The “German Heiress” Who Scammed New York! (Case of Anna Delvey)

With the release of 'Inventing Anna' on Netflix, lets take a look into the case that inspired the show. 

Our story begins in Soho, New York at a popular boutique hotel. Looking up at the woman who has mysteriously pranced in was Neff Davis, a 25 year old concierge who was shocked to see a $100 dollar bill slammed across the hotel front desk. 

    

She had bright red/pink pouty lips that was surrounded by a forest like, head of red hair that seemed to be noticed by upcoming cinematographer, Celine. 

“Whats your name?” Neff asked the mysterious woman. She replied, “Anna Delvey” 

This is the story of the “German Heiress” who scammed New York’s elite, her name is Anna Delvey. 

   However, this is not the story of an elite young woman but a scammer who reigned horror on New York Upper Elite. 

Anna Sorkin was born in Russia on January 23, 1991. She was one of two children of her family. Her father was a truck driver  and her mother owned a convenient store, before, becoming a housewife.

When she was sixteen, her family moved to Germany, where, Sorokin was described as “an excellent student, but quiet student” before graduating high school in 2011. She then moved to London to pursue an education at the university of Central Saint Martins, a school known for its fashion program.     

                 NEW-YORK

In 2013, Sorkin travelled to NYC to attend Fashion Week, finding it easier to make friends. Sorkin opted to stay in New York, transferring to New York’s purple office. 

Eventually, Sorkin left the purple office and met Rachel DeLoache Williams, a photo editor a Vanity Fair. The two eventually became close friends.

Rachel, who was under the impression that Sorkin was a socialite, agreed to go on an all paid vacation to Morocco, with her boyfriend, Chase Siroski, a motivational speaker. 

Initially, the trip starts well but when a malfunction on Anna’s card doesn’t allow her to pay, Rachel uses her card as a “hold” to ensure that they’re not arrested. 

After claiming she is unwell, Anna, Rachel and her boyfriend, Chase all travel back to America. 

Once Rachel is back in America, her cards get maxed out to its limit. ($62,00) Even worse, a charge appears on her Vanity Fair card. Rachel then begs Anna to wire her the money. 

When Anna only sends her $5,000, Rachel’s boyfriend, suggests going to the authorities. But Rachel is dismissive to the idea at first, due to “Trump’s America”.

Finally, Rachel manages to contact Anna, who claims she will pay Rachel back, in the form of a check. Once at the hotel that the two agreed to meet at, Rachel learns that Anna has fled, she also owed the hotel money, aswell. 

To finally catch Anna, Rachel participates in a sting operation  with NYPD to finally, bust Delvey, for her crimes.

At her trial, Anna was found guilty of multiple theft-related charges in 2019, relating to both elite and non elite people in New York, and was sentenced to between four and 12 years. She served almost four (two in pre-trial detention) and was released in February 2021.

Anna seems to be living life comfortably in an ICE (Immigration’s & Customs Enforcement) with slim to no consequences (or regrets) and even gained a little fame with the Netflix series, produced by Shonda Rhimes which premiered, February 11th 2022, one year after her release from prison. 
      

      (Julia Gardner & Anna Sorkin)