Marianne Smyth, a convicted scammer who claimed to be an Irish heiress and has been accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from multiple victims, is facing extradition to the United Kingdom. The scammer, who has also portrayed herself as a witch, psychic, and friend to Hollywood stars, has been in a Maine jail awaiting the decision on her extradition. The allegations against Smyth state that she stole over $170,000 from victims in Northern Ireland between 2008 and 2010. US Magistrate Judge John Nivison ruled that there is enough evidence to certify Smyth’s extradition to the UK to face the charges.
Smyth’s attorney, who has chosen not to comment on the case, did not respond to phone calls and emails following the ruling. If she is extradited, Smyth’s victims hope that it will put an end to a strange saga in which she has been described as a master of disguise and a seasoned con artist. The charges Smyth faces in the UK include four counts of fraud by abuse of position under the Fraud Act of 2006 and four counts of theft under Northern Ireland’s Theft Act of 1969. Authorities claim Smyth promised to invest money for victims and also arranged to sell a victim a home but instead pocketed the money.
A court in Northern Ireland had issued arrest warrants for Smyth earlier in the decade, leading to her current legal battle in the United States. Judge Nivison ruled that the evidence presented against Smyth, including her interactions with victims and transactions involving stolen money, is enough to sustain the extradition request. Smyth’s case bears similarities to that of Anna Sorokin, another scammer who posed as a German heiress to fund her lifestyle. Smyth’s victims, including podcaster Johnathan Walton, have accused her of stealing money by falsely claiming to be a wealthy heiress and engaging in various fraudulent activities.
Johnathan Walton, who fell victim to Marianne Smyth’s scams, used his podcast to gather information about her other victims and warn others about her deceitful ways. Smyth had convinced Walton that she was due an inheritance of $7 million from her Irish family, only for him to later discover that she had been jailed for stealing $200,000 from her former workplace. Some of Smyth’s accusers claim that she started a fake charity, while others say she pretended to be a cancer patient or a close friend of Jennifer Aniston. Smyth, who is actually American, was located and arrested in Maine in February, leading to her current extradition proceedings to face charges in the United Kingdom.
In conclusion, Marianne Smyth’s case sheds light on the elaborate deceptions and unsavory tactics used by scammers to manipulate and defraud their victims. Smyth’s victims, including Johnathan Walton, have shared their experiences in hopes of preventing others from falling prey to similar schemes. The decision to extradite Smyth to the UK highlights the collaborative efforts of international authorities to bring criminals to justice and hold them accountable for their actions. Ultimately, this case serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of remaining vigilant and conducting due diligence when dealing with individuals who make extravagant promises or claims. Hopefully, Smyth’s extradition will bring a sense of closure and justice to her victims and serve as a deterrent to others who may be considering engaging in fraudulent activities.
