Michael Avenatti sentenced to 2-1/2 years prison for Nike extortion scheme

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NEW YORK — Michael Avenatti, the brash lawyer who shot to fame representing porn actress Stormy Daniels in lawsuits towards Donald Trump earlier than a swirl of felony prices ended his authorized profession, was sentenced to 2-1/2 years in jail on Thursday for making an attempt to extort Nike Inc.

U.S. District Decide Paul Gardephe in Manhattan stated Avenatti, 50, “had develop into drunk on the facility of his platform” in betraying his shopper, a youth basketball coach, for his personal acquire.

“Mr. Avenatti’s conduct was outrageous,” Gardephe stated. “He hijacked his shopper’s claims, and he used these claims to additional his personal agenda, which was to extort hundreds of thousands of {dollars} from Nike for himself.”

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The sentencing caps a precipitous downfall for a once-obscure lawyer who in 2018 grew to become a cable information and social media fixture, disparaging then-President Trump and even flirting together with his personal White Home run.

Avenatti nonetheless faces three different felony fraud trials, together with for defrauding Daniels, whose authorized title is Stephanie Clifford.

Within the Nike case, Avenatti was convicted for threatening to reveal the sportswear firm’s alleged corrupt funds to households of school basketball prospects, except it paid as much as $25 million for him and one other lawyer to conduct a probe.

Nike has denied wrongdoing. “The decision and sentence communicate for themselves,” it stated in an announcement.

Recordings confirmed Avenatti telling Nike attorneys he would “blow the lid” on the corporate and wipe $10 billion off its inventory market worth except it bowed to his calls for.

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Prosecutors stated Avenatti was relying on a giant payday to cowl his money owed.

Avenatti was additionally convicted of defrauding the coach, Gary Franklin, by not telling him he wouldn’t settle except there have been a probe.

Gardephe learn extensively from Avenatti’s taped phrases, together with a number of profanities, earlier than imposing the sentence, which incorporates an extra three years of supervised launch following jail.

LOSING HIS WAY

Avenatti’s attorneys have stated he’ll attraction the February 2020 conviction.

Earlier than studying his destiny, Avenatti choked up as he admitted to dropping his means following years of “preventing for the little man towards the Goliaths.” The divorced father of three apologized to Franklin and others.

“TV and Twitter, your honor, imply nothing,” Avenatti informed the choose. “Everybody desires to experience in a limo with you, however only a few are prepared to take a seat subsequent to you on the bus. Even fewer, your honor, are prepared to take your calls from jail.

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“I and I alone have destroyed my profession, my relationships, my life,” he added.

Franklin had been upset Nike stopped sponsoring his program, and stated he wished merely to revive their relationship. He stated Avenatti had “destroyed my repute” inside his group.

Avenatti had sought not more than six months in jail.

Prosecutors had sought a “very substantial” time period, and probation officers really useful eight years.

However the choose stated he took under consideration Avenatti’s “honest regret” and his having spent three months early final 12 months in “horrific circumstances” at a Manhattan jail, in addition to the position of the opposite lawyer, who was not charged.

Avenatti nonetheless faces a July 20 trial in California on prices he stole practically $10 million from 5 shoppers, and a second trial there on chapter, financial institution and tax fraud prices.

He additionally faces a January trial in Manhattan for allegedly dishonest Daniels out of proceeds from a e book contract.

Daniels had sued Trump in reference to a 2016 settlement to not focus on their alleged sexual encounters from a decade earlier, which Trump denies having had.

Avenatti has pleaded not responsible to all prices. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Modifying by Jonathan Oatis and Howard Goller)