Banker: German fraudster spoke 'language' of banking world
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Anna Sorokin and her attorney Todd Spodek sit at the defense table after a recess in her trial in New York State Supreme Court, Wednesday, March 27, 2019, in New York. Sorokin, who claimed to be a German heiress, is on trial on grand larceny and theft of services charges. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
A New York banker says the alleged German fraudster Anna Sorokin seemed to "speak the language" of the financial world during her attempt to obtain a multimillion-dollar loan.
Ryan Salem of City National Bank told a Manhattan jury Thursday that his bank denied a request to finance a private arts club Sorokin proposed building.
But he said Sorokin persuaded the bank to loan her $100,000 that she failed to repay despite repeated claims she would wire funds from an overseas account.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The testimony came on the second of Sorokin's grand larceny and theft of services trial in state court in Manhattan.
Prosecutors say Sorokin bilked friends, banks and hotels to the tune of $275,000 over a 10-month period.
Her attorney has said she never intended to commit a crime.