US celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti found guilty of stealing from porn actress Stormy Daniels
- Michael Avenatti found guilty of stealing $300,000 from Stormy Daniels, who was writing a book about her alleged tryst with Donald Trump
- It was the latest criminal conviction for Avenatti, who was found guilty in 2020 of trying to extort millions of dollars from Nike
Lawyer Michael Avenatti, who rose to fame for taking on then-US President Donald Trump before a string of criminal charges ended his legal career, was convicted on Friday of defrauding a former client, porn star Stormy Daniels.
Avenatti, who faces up to 22 years behind bars, had pleaded not guilty to embezzling nearly US$300,000 in book proceeds intended for Daniels.
The verdict by a federal jury in Manhattan followed a two-week trial in which the brash, 50-year-old lawyer represented himself.
Avenatti, who is based in Los Angeles, agreed to surrender to US marshals in California on Monday. Sentencing was scheduled for May 24.
Following the verdict, Avenatti, who was wearing a black mask and a suit with a diamond-patterned tie, switched his gaze back and forth between the jury and down at the table he was sitting at. He vowed to appeal.
“I am very disappointed in the jury’s verdict,” Avenatti said. “I am looking forward to a full adjudication of all the issues on appeal.”
