The jury in the trial of lawyer Michael Avenatti has returned its verdict.
On Friday, Avenatti was found guilty of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft stemming from charges that he stole $300,000 from adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
He faces up to 22 years in prison stemming from the charges.
BREAKING: Jury convicts Michael Avenatti on both counts — wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He faces up to 22 years in prison for stealing from former-client Stormy Daniels.
— Lauren del Valle (@Lauren_delvalle) February 4, 2022
As The New York Times explains, “For a time Ms. Daniels and Mr. Avenatti were stars in what was sometimes called ‘the resistance’ to Mr. Trump’s presidency and policies. Some believed the two could bring down Mr. Trump, who denied Ms. Daniels’s allegations.”
“Seizing on her widening renown, Ms. Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, signed an $800,000 contract to write a book for St. Martin’s Press called ‘Full Disclosure.’ Mr. Avenatti briefly flirted with the idea of running for president. But their alliance dissolved amid acrimony in early 2019 after Ms. Daniels accused Mr. Avenatti of stealing,” it added.
As the Associated Press notes, he is facing a retrial “on charges that he ripped off clients and others for millions of dollars.”
He also has yet to begin a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence he received for trying to extort Nike for up to $25 million.
