NEW YORK, April 20 — A Russian-born woman was sentenced to 21 years in a US prison yesterday for trying to kill her American lookalike with poisoned cheesecake and then stealing her identity.

Viktoria Nasyrova, 47, was found guilty of attempted murder by a New York jury in February.

"A ruthless and calculating con artist is going to prison for a long time for trying to murder her way to personal profit and gain,” Queens district attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement.

Nasyrova visited the home of her then 35-year-old victim in August 2016 bearing the gift of a cheesecake.

At the time, the pair resembled one another — both spoke Russian, had dark hair, the same skin complexion and shared other physical traits — the trial heard.

The woman ate the dessert and began to feel sick before passing out.

The next day, a friend discovered the victim unconscious. Pills were scattered around her to make it look like she had tried to kill herself, prosecutors said.

When the victim returned home after treatment in hospital, she discovered her passport and employment authorization card were missing, along with jewellery and other valuables.

Law enforcement agents tested the cheesecake and found that it was laced with Phenazepam, a highly potent sedative, according to the DA’s office.

Nasyrova, who lives in Brooklyn, was also convicted of assault, unlawful imprisonment and theft. — AFP