Impostor as an idol

Fraudster led jet-set life like in TV crime series

"I saw in a Netflix series how great the rich and beautiful live," says a 26-year-old Carinthian at the trial in Klagenfurt. "And I wanted that too!" So the former young local politician became a serial fraudster who flew in private jets and slept in beautiful hotels - all without any money.

The German-Russian con artist Anna Sorokin had made headlines around the world by pretending to be the heiress of millions, which enabled her to fool New York's high society and lead a jet-set life with designer clothes, private parties and luxury trips. Until the scam was exposed and Anna ended up in court.

"I followed her story on the show," explains the young defendant. "And I knew I would never have much money on my own." After all, not much has happened to him in terms of his career since his A-levels; his attempt at becoming a politician also ended quickly at local authority level. So the now 26-year-old posed as the successful head of an advertising agency, only booked flights on private jets and stayed in chic hotels.

Among other things, he only went to Nice for a day trip. And another time he chartered a jet to fly from Klagenfurt to Stuttgart. "I had no money for the train," he explains in all seriousness. Judge Dietmar Wassertheurer looks puzzled: "But you don't really mean that, do you?" Apparently he does. Because although the ex-politician confesses and is remorseful, he doesn't quite seem to understand the mess he has got himself into. After all, the total loss amounts to more than half a million euros, a large part of which is cancellation fees from disgruntled airlines.

Fraudster has already written a book
His defense lawyer Karin Kostan must have seen through her client: "The series about the fraudster shows that she also marketed her trial and the verdict in the media. My client has already written a book while in custody. He is also looking for publicity."

What will be in the book? Because the Carinthian cannot keep up with Sorokin's million-dollar coup. Especially as in his case there is also a very tragic family component. He is the father of a small child who is now being looked after by a family in crisis. Since the father's arrest, his wife cannot be found - and he himself remains behind bars for a long time. The sentence amounts to 40 months in prison, plus a further seven months from a previous conviction, also for serious fraud. The sentence is not final.