Michael Avenatti Accused Of Embezzling Nearly $2M From NBA Star

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(KNX 1070) -- According to a recent story by the Los Angeles Times, attorney Michael Avenatti allegedly hid money that Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside had wired to the lawyer to settle a case with his ex-girlfriend. Instead, Avenatti spent the money on a share in a private jet. 

Per the report, Whiteside wired $2.75 million to Avenatti to settle a $3 million case with his ex Alexis Gardner, who was a client of Avenatti's. Avenatti was entitled to take up to $1 million of the settlement. 

NBA player Hassan Whiteside wired $2.75 million to Michael Avenatti to settle a case with his ex-girlfriend, an Avenatti client. Prosecutors say the L.A. lawyer stole most of the money to buy a share of a private jet. Here’s the full story. https://t.co/5GjmbRXcPt

— Michael Finnegan (@finneganLAT) April 21, 2019

Whiteside signed a four-year $98 million extension contract in 2016 with Heat. 

Avenatti is being accused of embezzling funds from several of his former clients, one of which was reportedly a mentally-ill paraplegic who received only a small fraction of a $4 million settlement.

Whiteside told the LA Times that the settlement was resolved and that he and his ex-girlfriend have “both moved on amicably.”