Stormy Daniels' Former Lawyer Michael Avenatti Cries In Court After Judge Sentences Him To 2.5 Years In Prison For Attempting To Extort Nike
July 8 2021, Published 5:06 p.m. ET
Celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti openly wept in court when he was handed down his 30-month prison sentence for attempting to extort Nike out of millions of dollars.
Avenatti -- who quickly rose to fame when he represented porn star Stormy Daniels against Donald Trump -- was found guilty of honest services wire fraud, extortion and transmitting a threat in an interstate communications charges in February.
On Thursday, a federal judge in Manhattan sentenced him to 2.5 years behind bars.
"Mr. Avenatti's conduct was outrageous," US District Judge Paul Gardephe said. "Mr. Avenatti had become drunk on the power of his platform, or what he perceived his platform to be."
According to CNN, Avenatti broke down in tears multiple times during his sentencing. He allegedly choked up when addressing the court, telling the judge that "TV and Twitter, your honor, mean nothing."
"I betrayed my own values, my friends, my family and myself," the disgraced lawyer said. "I, and I alone, have destroyed my career, my relationships, my life."
Avenatti attempted to extort at least $15 million from Nike, claiming he would use his media connections to tarnish the brand's image if they didn't pony up the cash, according to prosecutors.
His lawyers begged the judge for only 6 months behind bars, stating Avenatti has been "openly mocked" by Trump -- and that is punishment enough.
But prosecutors disagreed, arguing Daniel's ex-lawyer "sought to enrich himself by weaponizing his public profile in an attempt to extort a publicly-traded company out of tens of millions of dollars."
Avenatti faces even more charges for two separate incidents.
He's been accused of allegedly stealing a book advance from Daniels and defrauding clients in California.
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Daniels dumped her media-hungry attorney in 2019. She also praised his conviction earlier this year.
According to CNN, Avenatti -- who once claimed he was running for President -- cried openly in court as the judge handed down his sentencing.
