‘Queen of Con’ Smyth convicted of £115k fraud in Northern Ireland

Marianne Smyth, an American woman known as the “Queen of the Con,” was found guilty in Northern Ireland of defrauding friends and customers of more than £100,000 while working as a mortgage adviser between 2008 and 2010. Smyth, originally from Bangor, Maine, fled to the U.S. where she continued her scams by posing as an Irish heiress on the run from the IRA, and was previously convicted of grand theft in California for defrauding TV producer Johnathan Walton. Walton, who documented his experience in a podcast and book, helped authorities locate Smyth, leading to her conviction in Northern Ireland. Victims testified Smyth promised to invest money in property or high-interest accounts but instead spent it on travel and shopping, with some victims including close friends and a Gaelic football star. She did not testify in her defense, and the jury convicted her on multiple counts of theft and fraud after a brief deliberation. Smyth's case highlights the widespread threat of con artists and the importance of vigilance against such fraudsters.