A wannabe socialite posed as a fancy German heiress to try to scam banks, businesses and even a pal to fuel her lavish lifestyle, Manhattan prosecutors said in court Thursday.
“Her overall scheme has been to claim to be a wealthy German heiress with approximately $60 million in funds being held abroad,” said ADA Catherine McCaw of alleged grifter Anna Sorokin.
She pleaded not guilty in Manhattan Supreme Court to a slew of charges, including grand larceny and theft of services.
Prosecutors said that the phony heiress jet-sets around the world, buys fancy designer clothes and stays at luxury hotels – all on someone else’s dime.
“She’s born in Russia and has not a cent to her name as far as we can determine,” said McCaw, arguing that Sorokin be held without bail.
The 26-year-old allegedly tried to obtain a $22 million loan from two banks to open a private nightclub by presenting forged paperwork, claiming she had millions of dollars in overseas accounts, authorities said.
In other schemes, Sorokin, who also goes by Anna Delvey, allegedly swindled a pal and assorted businesses out of $270,000.
She offered to take her friend on a luxurious trip to Morocco in May but tried to pay with a debit card that she knew would be declined, prosecutors said.
Her pal paid $62,000 for the six-night stay in a luxury villa at a Marrakech hotel that included a private swimming pool and butler, according to court papers.
Despite repeated promises, she never reimbursed her friend for the trip, officials said.
She also allegedly ripped off $35,000 from Manhattan-based jet company Blade.
Sorokin chartered a private plane to the Berkshire Hathaway Annual shareholders Meeting in Omaha, Neb., but never paid her bill, court papers allege.
McCaw said Sorokin is a flight risk. She was slapped with a bench warrant just last month on two open misdemeanor cases for allegedly skipping out on her tabs at two swank Manhattan hotels.
Cops tracked her to California, where she was hiding out at a Malibu treatment center, and she was extradited to New York.
Defense lawyer Todd Spodek said she only missed her prior court date because she was trying to get treatment. He added, “It was never my client’s intention to commit a larceny in any respect.”
Justice Jill Konviser said that Sorokin fled on less serious charges and now faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
“I have absolutely no confidence whatsoever in her return to this jurisdiction to face the music,” she said, ordering that Sorokin be held without bail.