An American woman known as the “Queen of the con” has been sentenced to jail for stealing more than £100,000 from friends in Northern Ireland before fleeing to the US and pretending to be a wealthy heiress.
Marianne Smyth, 56, from Ballynahinch, Co Down, was convicted of three counts of theft and fraud at Downpatrick Crown Court in Co Down. She was found guilty of stealing over £72,000 from one couple, £23,000 from another victim, and £20,000 from a third victim between 2008 and 2010.
Smyth, who worked as a mortgage adviser, exploited her clients’ trust by promising them investment opportunities. The total amount she obtained was £135,000, but some of it was recovered. When she returned to the US, her victims reported her to the police, leading to her arrest in February 2024 and subsequent extradition to Northern Ireland for trial.
At the sentencing hearing, Smyth, described as an “incorrigible fraudster” by the judge, was ordered to serve three years and four months in jail, with half the sentence to be spent in custody and the other half on remand. She will also be deported back to the US.
Despite Smyth’s denial of responsibility and lack of remorse, the victims’ statements had a profound impact on the judge. One victim, who lost her family home due to Smyth’s actions, expressed satisfaction with the sentence but believed it should have been longer to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Detective Constable Mark Anderson commended the collaborative effort of investigators in the US and the UK, expressing gratitude to the victims for their cooperation. He emphasized the importance of holding scammers accountable, urging anyone who suspects they have been targeted to come forward and report it.
The sentencing serves as a warning to those engaging in fraudulent activities that justice will be pursued diligently, no matter the time elapsed. Victims are encouraged to report such crimes to law enforcement authorities to prevent others from falling victim to similar schemes.