Criminal former lawyer Michael Avenatti is headed to prison for an additional 14 years on top of his already present sentence. According to a ruling out Monday, the criminal former lawyer who swindled millions from his own clients will go to prison for 14 years (more) and have to pay more than $10m in restitution.
That restitution will go to a total of four clients and to the IRS. He was already convicted in two separate trials out of New York and is currently serving a prison sentence for those charges.
“Michael Avenatti was a corrupt lawyer who claimed he was fighting for the little guy. In fact, he only cared about his own selfish interests,” US Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement following the sentencing. “He stole millions of dollars from his clients – all to finance his extravagant lifestyle that included a private jet and race cars. As a result of his illegal acts, he has lost his right to practice law in California, and now he will serve a richly deserved prison sentence.”