A US podcaster and author who helped Northern Ireland authorities secure a fraud conviction on Thursday against a woman known as the “Queen of the Con” says he hopes the case makes the public realize that “these people are literally everywhere.”
Johnathan Walton said he was thrilled that Marianne “Mair” Smyth—who had previously been convicted of scamming nearly $100,000 from him in Los Angeles by pretending to be the heir to a $30 million fortune—was found guilty by a Downpatrick Crown Court jury of swindling more than £115,000 ($155,000) from four people while working as a mortgage advisor.
Walton documented his experience with Smyth in his podcast “Queen of the Con: The Irish Heiress” and a new book titled “Anatomy of a Con Artist: The 14 Red Flags to Spot Scammers, Grifters and Thieves.” His reporting led to a tip about her location in Bingham, Maine, in February 2024, which ultimately resulted in her conviction on Thursday, about 3,500 miles away.
“I feel like this is why I got scammed—I was meant to stop her,” said an emotional Walton, who traveled to Northern Ireland for the verdict. “I was meant to shine a light on how these people operate.”
During her four-day trial in Northern Ireland, prosecutors showed that Smyth stole from mortgage advisory clients—including one she considered a friend—between 2008 and 2010. One victim testified that he gave Smyth £72,570 to buy a rental property intended to fund his children’s university education, but she never purchased it, according to The Times.
Three other victims, including a couple, reportedly testified that they gave Smyth, who was born in the US, £43,000 for what they believed were high-interest or high-investment bank accounts. The accounts never existed. After allegedly killing more than a dozen dogs in her care, she fled Northern Ireland for Los Angeles as UK officials moved to arrest her.
In LA, Smyth befriended Walton while he was working as a reality TV producer. She convinced him she was a wealthy Irish heiress embroiled in a legal battle with her family. Walton gave her nearly $100,000, believing it would help her secure her inheritance. Instead, she used much of the money to resolve a 2016 guilty plea for stealing from a travel agency where she had worked.
Walton eventually investigated Smyth’s background, discovered she was a skilled con artist, and persuaded LA authorities to charge her. She was convicted of grand theft by false pretense but served less than two years in prison due to California’s efforts to reduce its incarcerated population during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Walton’s 2021 podcast, “Queen of the Con: The Irish Heiress,” detailed how Smyth defrauded him and her victims in Northern Ireland. A listener eventually alerted Walton to Smyth’s location in Maine, and he informed the police, leading to her arrest on February 23, 2024, in connection with the UK charges.
She was extradited from the US to the UK by early July 2024, setting the stage for the trial that concluded on Thursday.
Walton, who has since launched several other true crime podcasts and released “Anatomy of a Con Artist” in August, said he was surprised by how quickly the jury reached a verdict. The Times reported that the jury of eight men and three women deliberated for about 20 minutes before finding Smyth guilty.Our newsletters may include details about charities, online advertisements, and content sponsored by third parties. If you don’t have an account, we will set up a guest account for you on theguardian.com to deliver the newsletter. You can complete full registration whenever you like. For more details on how we handle your data, please refer to our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to secure our website, and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service also apply.
After the newsletter promotion:
Smyth’s sentencing is tentatively scheduled for October 16. According to her attorney Gary McHugh, as reported by the UK’s Sunday World, she has been in custody since her arrest in Maine, so she may receive little to no additional jail time. McHugh also mentioned that the UK government has filed documents indicating Smyth will face immediate deportation upon her release.
Walton noted that Smyth’s victims from Northern Ireland, along with the authorities who pursued her, approached him at the Downpatrick courthouse to express their gratitude, which he found moving. “It’s a surreal experience,” Walton said. “I feel like justice has been served.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the conviction of the Queen of the Con in a clear and natural tone
General Beginner Questions
Q Who is the Queen of the Con
A Her real name is Marianne Smyth She is a convicted con artist from Northern Ireland who stole large sums of money from multiple victims by pretending to be a financial advisor and heiress
Q What was she convicted of
A She was convicted of four counts of fraud by abuse of position and one count of theft Essentially she was found guilty of stealing money from people who trusted her
Q How much money did she steal
A She was convicted for stealing over 170000 from her victims in Northern Ireland However its believed her fraudulent activities span other countries and involve much more
Q Where did this happen
A The specific crimes she was just convicted for took place in Northern Ireland between 2008 and 2010
Q What sentence did she receive
A She was sentenced to five years in prison
Advanced Detailed Questions
Q What does fraud by abuse of position mean
A It means she used her professional or personal position of trust to dishonestly take money for herself The victims trusted her because of her position
Q Is this her first conviction
A While this is a major conviction she has a long history of alleged scams and legal issues in other places including the United States which is how she earned the infamous nickname
Q How was she finally caught and convicted
A Her victims in Northern Ireland reported her to the police A lengthy investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland gathered evidence of her crimes leading to her trial and conviction
Q Will the victims get their money back
A The court also issued a Confiscation Order to try to recover the stolen funds for the victims However recovering the full amount can be difficult and it depends on whether she has any assets left
Q What is the significance of this case
A Its significant because it brings a longrunning serial fraudster to justice providing closure for her victims It also serves as a highprofile warning about investment and affinity fraud where
