Michael Avenatti, the Southern California attorney who represented porn star Stormy Daniels in a legal battle against former President Donald Trump and was later convicted of siphoning off hundreds of thousands of dollars, announced Sunday that he would be the last Will be guilty of three. criminal cases against him
According to a court document filed on Sunday, Avenatti presented his intent to plead guilty in a federal case in California’s Central District accusing him of more than 30 embezzlement, perjury and tax-related felonies.
After pleading guilty to two other counts, he is already serving a five-year prison sentence.
Avenatti, which once had offices in Newport Beach and Los Angeles, has been accused of stealing settlement money from several clients to help protect his law firm from bankruptcy and pay other expenses.
Avenatti’s defense team wrote in the court notice, “Despite repeated attempts by Mr. Avenatti and his counsel over the past year, including substantial efforts made over the past 30 days, the respondent has been unable to reach a plea agreement with the Government Is.”
“Mr. Avenatti wishes to be requested to be accountable; avoid further burdening his former clients; save significant resources of the court and government; and save his family from further embarrassment,” it says.
Southern California’s case was due to begin in July.
Ten days after the celebrity lawyer’s plea was changed, a federal judge in New York found him guilty of stealing the proceeds of the book from Daniels and sentenced him to two years and six months on June 2. Less than a year ago, Avenatti was convicted. For attempting to extort millions of dollars from Nike Corporation, and was ordered to spend an additional 30 months in prison.
