Anna Sorokin: « Inventing Anna » in real life released from prison

CNN
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Anna Sorokin, the bogus heiress on whom Netflix’s « Inventing Anna » is based, was released from ICE custody on Friday.

Juda Engelmayer, spokesperson for Sorokin, confirmed his release in an email to CNN Friday night.

“She will remain under the supervision of ICE, but will be able to fight her deportation without physical detention,” said John Sandweg, a former acting director of immigration and customs who is part of Sorokin’s legal team.

Immigration Judge Charles Conroy cleared the way for Sorokin’s release earlier this week, setting his bail at $10,000 and requiring him to meet certain conditions. Among them: staying off social media and staying at the same residential address 24 hours a day while his case progresses.

The judge’s ruling also said ICE could use an ankle monitor to keep tabs on Sorokin.

An ICE spokesman said Sorokin was released on Friday after the judge’s decision.

According to her attorney, she had been in ICE custody for 17 months, primarily at the Orange County Correctional Center in upstate New York, about 60 miles from New York.

“We are grateful to the Court for agreeing that his continued detention was unnecessary,” Sandweg said in a statement Friday.

Sorokin was convicted of stealing more than $200,000 from banks and friends as she navigated her way through New York society, the Manhattan District Attorney said after her 2019 sentencing.

His case gained widespread attention after a 2018 New York magazine article.

This article became the basis for Shonda Rhimes’ « Inventing Anna, » a dramatization that hit Netflix in February and quickly became one of the streamer’s most popular shows. Actress Julia Garner, best known for her Emmy-winning role as Ruth in « Ozark, » played Sorokin.

The show ends with Sorokin’s conviction. But in real life, the drama continued.

Sorokin was released from prison in February 2021 after serving nearly four years for robbery and larceny. But she soon found herself behind bars.

ICE took custody of Sorokin on March 25, 2021. In November, the Immigration Appeals Board granted an emergency stay in his case, according to ICE. She fought against her deportation – and also joined a group of plaintiffs suing the agency earlier this year, alleging they requested and were denied Covid booster shots while in detention. They dropped their lawsuit in March after receiving the shots, according to court records.

During his detention, frequent messages were posted on Sorokin’s social media accounts. Recently, they highlighted Sorokin’s works, which were featured in an exhibition in New York in May.

Earlier this year, an attorney representing Sorokin told NBC News he feared her deportation when he could not reach her, but it later emerged she was still in ICE custody.

Soon after, Sorokin spoke out behind bars, telling the « Call Her Daddy » podcast that she never claimed to be a German heiress.

« I was from Germany, which was true, but no one ever asked me about my work, » Sorokin said. « Nobody asks who your parents are and how much money they make. It’s just outrageous.

She told host Alex Cooper that she never « told foolish lies ».

But she admitted — sort of — to lying about her status and background.

« I guess so, » she said. « I mean, I can’t say an exact example, but I’m sure. »

Sorokin also said she was surprised by the public’s fascination with her story.

« It was really a surprise to me that people were, like, so interested in how I approached things, because it made so much sense to me, » she said.