Michael Avenatti got pretty famous a few years ago, representing porn star Stormi Daniels against Donald Trump. He spent about as much time on cable news shows as he did in the courtroom, and for a time, people were listening to the man. He soaked up the attention. And now, he’s headed to prison.
Michael Avenatti just pleaded guilty in federal court to five felony charges. “[S]pecifically [he] pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud – each related to one of four matters in which he embezzled money that should have been paid to clients – and one count of endeavoring to obstruct the administration of the Internal Revenue Code,” according to The United States Attorney’s Office, Central District of California. He was previously convicted of stealing money from Stormi Daniels. He represented himself in that case.
Avenatti agreed to the deal, his appointed attorney said, because he wanted to hold himself accountable and to end the embarrassment to his family, according to Fox News. He could, however, still be charged with another 31 counts, should the federal prosecutor’s office choose to go that direction. If they do not, Avenatti would be sentenced in September. With fines and restitution, Avenatti will have to pay over $15 million in addition to his prison time, reports Fox News.
In July of 2021, Avenatti received a 30 month prison sentence for his attempt to extort up to $25 million from Nike. Avenatti had threatened to say that Nike had made illicit payments to players in a youth basketball team in Los Angeles if Nike didn’t pay him the money.
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Michael Avenatti is not a good guy. He steals from his own clients, evades taxes and threatens extortion. He is also beyond arrogant, as evidenced by his representing himself in the case involving Stormi Daniels. Furthermore, he didn’t plead to protect his family from embarrassment and hold himself accountable. People like him don’t think like that. I’m sure he hopes the feds won’t prosecute the other 31 counts because of his plea. Is this a good ending to the saga of Michael Avenatti? Or should the feds go for the other 31 charges?
