Justice has finally caught up with New York’s most notorious party crasher, Priyantha De Silva.
The uninvited infiltrator of society soirees pleaded guilty Friday to fourth degree grand larceny in Manhattan Supreme Court. He faces a 1 1/2 to three-year sentence, the Manhattan district attorney’s office confirmed to us.
Page Six reported in January 2011 that De Silva was arrested after he crashed the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center’s November 2010 Going Gatsby gala, for which he bought a $150 ticket at the door. He paid for the ticket and a $1,500 Prada bag during the event’s silent auction with a fake Bank of America credit card.
De Silva was arraigned, with bail set at $7,500. But he couldn’t find the cash to put up bail, and has since languished in jail at Rikers Island until his case was set to go to trial this week.
The incident was the latest in a string of De Silva antics over the years, which included impersonating editors at Condé Nast and producers of the movie “Crash” to get into red-carpet events, as well as allegedly writing bad checks and opening fraudulent bank accounts. De Silva also had a warrant out for his arrest after he was cited in 2009 for urinating in public on Meadow Lane in Southampton.
De Silva also had a reputation for bad behavior at parties. During the American Antiques gala preview at the Metropolitan Pavilion in January of last year, he fell asleep on a table as Martha Stewart and Citigroup chairman Dick Parsons mingled nearby.
Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center trustee Kelly E. Jones told us: “We are happy to hear that Mr. De Silva pled guilty to his crimes. The Center has recently expanded to a brand-new facility in Yonkers, so we are all eager to put an end to this and focus instead on this new and exciting chapter for our children.”
De Silva will be sentenced next month. His lawyer, Philip Rauch, didn’t return calls.