District Judge Jesse Furman said Avenatti’s conduct was “so blatant and blatant,” adding that he “took advantage of a vulnerable victim given his unorthodox career and somewhat unorthodox beliefs.” .
Avenatti was convicted in February of aggravated fraud and identity theft. He faced up to 20 years on charges of electronic fraud and a mandatory two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft. Avenatti is currently serving a 30-month prison sentence for attempting to extort more than $ 20 million from Nike by threatening to release harmful information unless paid. He will be tried in California next month on charges of embezzling $ 10 million in liquidation funds from at least five clients. He has also been charged with tax fraud and insolvency fraud and pleaded not guilty to charges.
Part of Thursday’s sentence will be served along with Nike’s sentence, but Furman said Avenatti will have to serve two and a half more years after completing Nike’s sentence.
Avenatti was also ordered to pay $ 148,750 to Daniels and $ 297,900 to the United States.
Furman told Avenatti, “I hope you make better use of your great talents.”
Avenatti, in a beige prison suit and chained ankles, was thrilled when he turned to the judge.
“I have destroyed my career, my relationships and my reputation and done collateral damage to my family and my life,” she said as she held back tears. Avenatti argued that for most of his career he had fought for the underprivileged.
“There is no doubt that I made a number of mistakes and exercised poor judgment,” Avenatti said.
Furman said it was a “tragic, sad case … sorry” and noted that Avenatti “is quite smart and has great legal skills. What changed? I don’t know the answer to that question.”
He said that at some point Avenatti’s “healthy ambition” became “blind ambition.” The judge said Avenatti’s letter of apology to Daniels was “too little, too late.”
Fall of a major lawyer
The legal upheaval is a dramatic turn for Avenatti, who rose to fame representing Daniels when he made public the allegations that he received a payment of $ 130,000 just before the 2016 presidential election to silence his accusations of a adventure with then-candidate Donald Trump. Trump has denied the affair.
Following the publicity of the silent money scandal, Avenatti helped Daniels sign a $ 800,000 book deal. Prosecutors said Avenatti stole nearly $ 300,000 from the advance by fabricating a letter allegedly from Daniels redirecting the book publisher’s payments to an account under Avenatti’s control.
At trial, Avenatti represented himself and fired his court-appointed lawyers at half-trial. Prosecutors called 10 witnesses, including Daniels, who testified that Avenatti lied to her and betrayed her. Avenatti attacked Daniels’ credibility during interrogation by questioning her about her belief in the paranormal and suggested that she was entitled to take some of the progress of her book for the work she had done even though she was not in it. your written contract. Avenatti did not testify or call any witnesses in his defense.
Last month, Avenatti wrote a letter of apology to Daniels, which he handed to the judge, in which he says, “Obviously I failed you in many ways and I disappointed you and I have disappointed you in many ways.” He added: “I wish we could turn back the clock so that the mistakes I made will never be repeated. I’m so sorry.”
Clark Brewster, a lawyer for Daniels, said after the verdict: “Mistakes and misjudgment, this is far from it. It was a deceptive scheme of lies and defaming it very different from a mistake. error. Calculated. dishonesty “.
He said Daniels is “happy to have taken responsibility.”
“When we talked in the last few days, even though she’s angry about what she did, she’s sorry about her situation and her family and me too. I think she’ll be happy with the resolution. What Judge Furman would have done would have been acceptable. for Stormy, he is a generous, loving and forgiving person, “said Brewster.
Robert Baum, Avenatti’s lawyer, said Avenatti was “dismayed” by his inability to practice law. He said that when Avenatti completes the full five-year sentence, including the Nike sentence and the Daniels case, he hopes it “can have a significant impact on the community.”
Avenatti hugged Baum in court, greeted a line of supporters and said, “Thank you,” before the American marshals let him out of the courtroom.
Avenatti was transferred from FCI Terminal Island to California, where he is serving a Nike sentence, to the New York Metropolitan Detention Center for Thursday’s sentencing. He will be transported back to California for trial next month.
This story has been updated with additional details.