As Delvey steps back into the spotlight, many might be left wondering: how did she get here, and why is she still under legal watch? Delvey’s story is one of audacious accusations and shocking details.

In September 2024, Anna Sorokin, better known as Anna Delvey, made headlines once again, but this time for joining the latest season of “Dancing with the Stars.” She was cast alongside former NBA star Dwight Howard, actress Tori Spelling, and television personality Jenn Tran.

Her participation was announced on “Good Morning America,” stirring up a frenzy on social media. Many found the idea of Delvey performing while under legal surveillance bizarre and controversial.

“This is absurd,” one person commented. “The ankle monitor will make it really interesting,” someone else added. “But she’s not a star?” another person typed.

Delvey’s dance partner, Ezra Sosa, took to Instagram to share the news, writing, “Excited to announce my very first partner for DWTS is none other than the iconic @theannadelvey!”

“Thrilled to be hitting the dance floor with someone who knows how to keep everyone on their toes—both in and out of the ballroom. We’re ready to hustle our way to the top—just without the wire transfers this time. 😘 💃🏽🕺🏽 @theannadelvey @dancingwiththestars #dwts,” the caption continued.

She was then granted permission from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “[…] And then it was kind of too late to back out,” she revealed. Delvey was released from prison in 2021 after serving four years but has since been on house arrest while fighting her deportation case.

Delvey lived under the guise of a German heiress with a multi-million-dollar trust fund for years. She used this fabricated persona to immerse herself in the luxurious world of New York City’s elite.

She portrayed herself as a wealthy jet-setter who always had the means to pick up the tab — often paying in cash and posting her lavish lifestyle on Instagram and Twitter.

At one point, she even persuaded a bank employee to hand over $100,000, a loan she never intended to repay, and a crime that was a central point in her 2019 conviction. During her trial, Delvey portrayed herself as a misunderstood young woman who made some bad decisions.

She was candid about her lack of remorse, admitting in an interview from Rikers Island, “The thing is, I’m not sorry. I’d be lying to you and to everyone else and to myself if I said I was sorry for anything.”

Delvey’s deceit led to accusations that she defrauded hotels, restaurants, a private jet operator, and banks out of approximately $275,000 in just ten months.

In May 2019, she was found guilty of eight charges, including grand larceny, attempted grand larceny, and theft of services. Delvey was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison, fined $24,000, and ordered to pay nearly $200,000 in restitution.

“That’s a loaded question. I would like to show the world that I’m not this dumb, greedy person that they portrayed me to be,” she responded. Her former defense attorney, Todd Spodek, argued that Delvey did nothing criminal but exploit a system easily dazzled by wealth and glamour.

Williams recounted her experiences with Delvey and detailed how the Russian native often treated her to luxurious outings and exclusive services, including $300 private fitness sessions.

Stranded, Williams reluctantly offered her own cards to cover expenses, accumulating a staggering $62,000 bill that she later realized Delvey had no intention of repaying. “She owed me more money than I made in a year,” Williams said.

Released briefly, she was rearrested in October 2017 and held at Rikers Island. Delvey admitted that she had gained notoriety among fellow inmates, who saw her as someone who had defrauded the rich, though she rejected that characterization.

Anna Delvey’s journey from convicted con artist to reality TV star is anything but typical. As she dances her way back into the spotlight, she remains a polarizing figure.