A judge sentenced attorney Michael Avenatti to 30 months in prison for attempting to extort up to $25 million from Nike executives after he threatened to go public with potentially damaging information.
Avenatti, who once represented adult actress Stormy Daniels in a suit against former President Donald Trump, was convicted last year of extortion.
The federal judge said he “hijacked his client’s claims” and “used those claims to further his own agenda, which was to extort millions of dollars from Nike for himself.”
Drunk on power, as the judge described him, “He had become someone who operated as if the laws and the rules that applied to everyone else didn’t apply to him.”
Avenatti was apologetic and tearful when addressing the court.
“I and I alone have destroyed my career, my relationships and my life,” he said. “I’ve learned that all the fame, notoriety and money in the world is meaningless. TV and Twitter, your honor, mean nothing.”
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) tweeted, "Michael Avenatti loved to talk about Trump going to prison. Well, we see how that turned out," adding, "Hope things don't get too stormy."
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There are more court appearances in Avenatti’s future.
After his sentencing, he immediately flew to southern California for another trial next week where he’s charged with defrauding clients out of settlement monies. A separate trial set for next year in Manhattan alleges he cheated Stormy Daniels out of funds while representing her.
His attorney claims that if convicted in the Santa Ana, California case, Avenattia could face a maximum sentence of 10 to 12 years in prison.
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