Los Angeles, California — Michael Avenatti, the disgraced attorney known for representing Stormy Daniels in her legal battles against former President Donald Trump, had his prison term for financial fraud reduced from 14 years to just under eight during a resentencing hearing on Thursday.
Avenatti was originally sentenced after he pleaded guilty to charges involving the theft of millions from clients and tax obstruction. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated his sentence last October, determining it was based on flawed loss calculations for the victims. As a result, U.S. District Court Judge James Selna revised Avenatti’s prison term to 135 months, subsequently deducting 40 months due to a fraud case related to Stormy Daniels.
On the day of the resentencing, heightened security was evident outside the courthouse, a response to recent riots in Los Angeles. Courthouse doors were boarded up, and cracks in windows suggested prior disruptions. While his lengthy sentence was struck down, Avenatti still retains his guilty verdicts for wire fraud and tax-related crimes.
Prosecutors have alleged that Avenatti charged settlement fees on behalf of his clients, only to misappropriate the funds for his own luxurious lifestyle. These charges stand apart from other convictions he faces, including extortion attempts directed at Nike and misappropriation of funds intended for Daniels.
Avenatti initially faced a 14-year sentence after admitting guilt in 2022 to multiple counts of wire fraud and tax obstruction. He opted to forgo a plea deal with federal prosecutors, expressing a desire to be accountable for his actions and to minimize embarrassment for his family.
Previously set for release in July 2035, Avenatti sought a significantly shorter sentence that would open the possibility of his early release. He has represented himself throughout the legal proceedings and has been suspended from practicing law in California.
As part of his request for a more lenient sentence, Avenatti submitted a detailed memorandum highlighting his behavior during incarceration. He described a transformation while at Terminal Island prison, where he claimed to have earned the trust of prison officials and has engaged in various rehabilitative activities, including completing a drug abuse program and assisting other inmates.
Despite the reduction in his sentence, prosecutors had requested a figure close to the original. Avenatti’s argument for leniency focused on his efforts to atone for his past actions while behind bars.
The case against Avenatti also interlinks with his representation of Daniels, whose legal disputes with Trump concern a nondisclosure agreement related to an alleged affair. The complex web of legal battles surrounding Avenatti underscores a cautionary tale of ambition gone awry, where the pursuit of high-profile cases ultimately led to his downfall.
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