Michael Avenatti sentenced to 14 years in prison for defrauding clients, tax fraud - KABC-TV

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- Former personage lawyer Michael Avenatti, who roseate to fame representing adult-film histrion Stormy Daniels successful her litigation against erstwhile President Donald Trump, was sentenced successful Orange County to 14 years successful national situation for taxation and ligament fraud.

U.S. District Judge James Selna said Avenatti's condemnation volition tally consecutively -- oregon connected apical of -- the 5 years helium is already serving for convictions successful New York for an extortion strategy against Nike, and for stealing from Daniels. He has been successful situation since February.

Avenatti, 51, was sentenced Monday for "defrauding his clients and for obstructing IRS efforts to cod payroll taxes from his java business," the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said connected Twitter. He was ordered to wage astir $11 cardinal successful restitution to 4 clients and the Internal Revenue Service aft pleading blameworthy successful June to 4 counts of ligament fraud and 1 number of taxation fraud.

Federal prosecutors successful Santa Ana had asked Selna to enforce a 17 1/2- twelvemonth term, portion Avenatti was arguing for lone six years. Prosecutors presented successful tribunal the lavish manner Avenatti led with the stolen cash, including the purchases of a backstage pitchy and sports cars, arsenic the clients helium stole from struggled to marque ends meet.

Geoffrey Johnson was 1 of 2 victims to springiness a connection successful court.

"I've learned not to spot radical much than they deserve," helium said.

In his khaki situation uniform, the erstwhile boasting personage lawyer broke down successful tears successful national tribunal and pleaded for mercy - conscionable earlier helium was sentenced to 14 years successful prison.

In their sentencing recommendation, national prosecutors said Avenatti's schemes followed a "general pattern" successful which helium "would prevarication astir the existent presumption of the colony statement helium had negotiated for the client, conceal the colony payments that the counterparty had made, secretly instrumentality and walk the colony proceeds that belonged to the client, and lull the lawsuit into not complaining oregon investigating further by providing tiny advances' connected the supposedly yet-to-be-paid funds."

Prosecutors called Avenatti was a "tax cheat," and cited his nonaccomplishment to wage payroll taxes aft his steadfast acquired Tully's Coffee successful bankruptcy and past obstructed the IRS erstwhile the bureau attempted to cod the magnitude due.

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