Latest news with #MichaelAvenatti
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti gets nearly eight more years in prison at resentencing
Michael Avenatti, the once-swaggering celebrity lawyer who represented adult film star Stormy Daniels in her court battles against President Trump, was resentenced Thursday to 11 years in prison for dodging taxes and stealing millions of dollars from clients. U.S. District Judge James V. Selna resentenced Avenatti to 135 months — slightly more than 11 years — but credited him 40 months for the time he has served in prison for stealing nearly $300,000 from Daniels' advance on a book contract. That brought his sentence to nearly eight years. "Avenatti has done many noble and good things in his life, some reflected in this case, but he's also done great evil for which he must answer," Selna said. "His actions in this case ... show an abandonment of some of the most basic principles of fairness." Avenatti pleaded guilty in June 2022 to four counts of wire fraud for stealing money from clients and one count of obstructing collection of payroll taxes from his Seattle coffee business, which is now defunct. Read more: Michael Avenatti pleads guilty to fraud, tax charges in California One of the clients he stole from, Geoffrey Ernest Johnson, was a mentally ill paraplegic man on disability. Selna on Thursday ordered Avenatti to pay about $9 million in restitution to his victims — at least 10, including the Internal Revenue Service and the State Bar of California. Avenatti, who appeared in court in Santa Ana dressed in a gray sweatshirt and sweatpants, was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2022. After he appealed the sentence, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a new hearing. The 9th Circuit found that the trial judge based his decision on calculations of a greater loss than victims actually suffered and gave Avenatti too harsh a sentence. Prosecutors had sought slightly more than 13 years in prison. Avenatti had requested a little more than three. Ahead of the hearing at the federal courthouse in Santa Ana, Selna issued a tentative ruling of 10 years, citing Avenatti's work helping fellow inmates in prison, including as a suicide watch companion and through tutoring. But prosecutor Brett Sagel argued that Avenatti was the same person he was when he stole from his clients and called the judge's proposed sentence "unjust." "He is the same unrepentant person who will say or do anything whether truthful or not, if it benefits him," Sagel said. "He has not changed in the least." Margaret Farrand, Avenatti's federal public defender, said that, from the beginning of his career, Avenatti "has had a part of him that is really seeking to make the world a better place and he is not doing it for money." "This is part of who he is, it's part of what he is — a person that has a good heart and wants to help the world in some way," Farrand said. His actions while in prison, Farrand said, "shows this is the part of himself he wants to carry on." Although Selna had initially proposed a shorter sentence than his final ruling, he appeared particularly swayed by Alexis Gardner, one of Avenatti's former clients, who spoke at the hearing. Avenatti admitted stealing from a $2.75-million settlement that Hassan Whiteside, Gardner's former boyfriend and a pro basketball player then with the Miami Heat, agreed to pay Gardner to avoid a potential lawsuit. Avenatti, who during his crime spree drove a Ferrari, used most of that money to buy a private jet. Gardner was trembling as she stood before Selna, at times pausing to collect herself, noting that it was tough to "have to stand next to my abuser." "Eight years ago, I expected a life-changing settlement that would give me security and a chance to build my future," Gardner said. "Instead, Mr. Avenatti misappropriated my funds, and he dictated my fate without my consent, based on choices that he made." Gardner called Avenatti a "legal predator" and said that if it weren't for him, she would be a homeowner, would own a car and would have savings. Read more: Michael Avenatti gets four years for defrauding Stormy Daniels "This is someone who looked me in my eyes and told me that they were protecting me," she said. "I think you should give him the most that you can give him because it protects people who are not equipped to fight these legal battles." When he addressed the court, Avenatti said if could change that past, "I would." "All I can do is try to move forward in a positive way, and that's what I've attempted to do, and that's what I'm going to continue to attempt to do," he said. After the hearing, Sagel told reporters that he believed Avenatti should have gotten more time, "but obviously getting the equivalent of 11 years on a fraud matter is a significant sentence." "I'm pretty sure he doesn't see this as a victory, doing double digits in jail," Sagel said. It's unclear exactly when Avenatti will be released from prison. After Selna handed down the sentence, Avenatti seemed to signal to someone in the crowd that another legal action was coming. "We'll be back," he said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Disgraced lawyer Michael Avenatti seeks mercy at resentencing, citing 'model inmate' record
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Disgraced lawyer Michael Avenatti says life behind bars has changed him into a better person and is asking a federal judge to consider that personal transformation when he gets resentenced on May 27. Avenatti was originally sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding clients of millions of dollars and hiding millions more from the IRS. He appealed that sentence, and a new hearing was ordered by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which said the trial judge erred by ultimately giving Avenatti a too-lengthy sentence. "Since his 2022 original sentencing, [Avenatti] has lived every day of his incarceration seeking to atone for the harm he caused and set his life on a different path," Avenatti's lawyers wrote on Tuesday in their 41-page argument for a more lenient sentence. That filing offers details about Avenatti's life at the Terminal Island prison in Los Angeles. They described how Avenatti is trusted by prison officials to help other inmates – including serving as "suicide watch companion." He also completed a drug abuse program and "regularly attended AA meetings and religious services." Supreme Court Rejects Michael Avenatti Appeal As Nike Extortion Conviction Stands Celebrity attorney Michael Avenatti walks out of a New York courthouse after a hearing on July 23, 2019. Avenatti's lawyers also included an internal Bureau of Prisons report, which says he "has been a model inmate….[and] has distinguished himself through his work in the library, where he has voluntarily assisted academically challenged inmates with legal matters." Read On The Fox News App The lawyers also claim Avenatti's prison behavior is a true reflection of his character and done without regard to the upcoming resentencing hearing. "His actions demonstrate remorse, rehabilitation, and a strong desire to become a source of positive change," they wrote. Federal guidelines allow for judges to consider an inmate's good deeds behind bars when resentencing. Prosecutors argue Avenatti is still the same shady lawyer – now disbarred – and still deserves a long sentence. Michael Avenatti To Plead Guilty In Remaining Criminal Cases The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit building is seen on Feb. 6, 2017, in San Francisco. The appeals court ordered a new hearing after saying the trial judge erred by ultimately giving Michael Avenatti a too-lengthy sentence. "Defendant's egregious violations of his duties and the trust placed in him by his clients, his infliction of great harm by stealing millions of dollars from them, and his greed and arrogance leading to the calculated choices and deception that he carried out for years against his clients and the IRS, all remain the same," Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brett Sagel and Ranaee Katzenstein wrote in their filing submitted early Wednesday morning. Avenatti's release date is currently set for July 31, 2035. He is asking U.S. District Court Judge James Selna for a sentence that would have him released in just a few years. Prosecutors are asking for a sentence of only a few months less than the 14 years originally handed down. Michael Avenatti Pleads Guilty To Five Criminal Charges In Federal Court Former lawyer Michael Avenatti stands next to his most famous client, adult film actress Stormy Daniels, during a news conference. Both filings offer detailed arguments about the different factors they want Selna to reconsider at the upcoming hearing, including determinations about how to properly assess how much money Avenatti's clients actually lost. Those technical determinations are significant as they influence the severity of the sentence. In essence, as the financial amounts increase, so does the sentence. The appellate court ruled Selna miscalculated some of those losses at the original sentencing hearing. "Mr. Avenatti acknowledges that nothing can change how much he hurt the former clients he was entrusted to help," federal public defender Margaret Farrand wrote about her client. "Nothing can change the shame he still feels. But Mr. Avenatti has tried his best to show that his remorse and concern for others are real, not through his words, but through his actions while in custody." This case is separate from Avenatti's other convictions for attempting to extort Nike and stealing money from his most famous client, Stormy Daniels. Avenatti's attempts to get those convictions and sentences overturned on appeal all failed. Original article source: Disgraced lawyer Michael Avenatti seeks mercy at resentencing, citing 'model inmate' record
Fox News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Disgraced lawyer Michael Avenatti seeks mercy at resentencing, citing 'model inmate' record
Disgraced lawyer Michael Avenatti says life behind bars has changed him into a better person and is asking a federal judge to consider that personal transformation when he gets resentenced on May 27. Avenatti was originally sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding clients of millions of dollars and hiding millions more from the IRS. He appealed that sentence, and a new hearing was ordered by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which said the trial judge erred by ultimately giving Avenatti a too-lengthy sentence. "Since his 2022 original sentencing, [Avenatti] has lived every day of his incarceration seeking to atone for the harm he caused and set his life on a different path," Avenatti's lawyers wrote on Tuesday in their 41-page argument for a more lenient sentence. That filing offers details about Avenatti's life at the Terminal Island prison in Los Angeles. They described how Avenatti is trusted by prison officials to help other inmates – including serving as "suicide watch companion." He also completed a drug abuse program and "regularly attended AA meetings and religious services." SUPREME COURT REJECTS MICHAEL AVENATTI APPEAL AS NIKE EXTORTION CONVICTION STANDS Avenatti's lawyers also included an internal Bureau of Prisons report, which says he "has been a model inmate….[and] has distinguished himself through his work in the library, where he has voluntarily assisted academically challenged inmates with legal matters." The lawyers also claim Avenatti's prison behavior is a true reflection of his character and done without regard to the upcoming resentencing hearing. "His actions demonstrate remorse, rehabilitation, and a strong desire to become a source of positive change," they wrote. Federal guidelines allow for judges to consider an inmate's good deeds behind bars when resentencing. Prosecutors argue Avenatti is still the same shady lawyer – now disbarred – and still deserves a long sentence. MICHAEL AVENATTI TO PLEAD GUILTY IN REMAINING CRIMINAL CASES "Defendant's egregious violations of his duties and the trust placed in him by his clients, his infliction of great harm by stealing millions of dollars from them, and his greed and arrogance leading to the calculated choices and deception that he carried out for years against his clients and the IRS, all remain the same," Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brett Sagel and Ranaee Katzenstein wrote in their filing submitted early Wednesday morning. Avenatti's release date is currently set for July 31, 2035. He is asking U.S. District Court Judge James Selna for a sentence that would have him released in just a few years. Prosecutors are asking for a sentence of only a few months less than the 14 years originally handed down. MICHAEL AVENATTI PLEADS GUILTY TO FIVE CRIMINAL CHARGES IN FEDERAL COURT Both filings offer detailed arguments about the different factors they want Selna to reconsider at the upcoming hearing, including determinations about how to properly assess how much money Avenatti's clients actually lost. Those technical determinations are significant as they influence the severity of the sentence. In essence, as the financial amounts increase, so does the sentence. The appellate court ruled Selna miscalculated some of those losses at the original sentencing hearing. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Mr. Avenatti acknowledges that nothing can change how much he hurt the former clients he was entrusted to help," federal public defender Margaret Farrand wrote about her client. "Nothing can change the shame he still feels. But Mr. Avenatti has tried his best to show that his remorse and concern for others are real, not through his words, but through his actions while in custody." This case is separate from Avenatti's other convictions for attempting to extort Nike and stealing money from his most famous client, Stormy Daniels. Avenatti's attempts to get those convictions and sentences overturned on appeal all failed.
