Michael Avenatti (50), lawyer for ex-porn star Stormy Daniels (42), was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. The man had tried to blackmail sports giant Nike – he threatened to release secret information about college basketball players that could become a scandal for Nike. He is said to have demanded $ 20 million from the sporting goods manufacturer.
The lawyer was arrested in February 2020. He was then found guilty of blackmailing Nike and of fraud against a client. The sentence was now known on Thursday. The New York judge sentenced him to 30 months in prison, as reported by the New York Post.
Mud fight with Donald Trump
A hard blow for the lawyer, who became known in 2016 through a public mud fight with then President Donald Trump (75). Avenatti represented ex-porn actress Stormy Daniels (42), who took action against Trump because of a confidentiality agreement.
In 2006 Stormy Daniels – who is actually called Stephanie Clifford – claims to have slept with the married Trump. The ex-president supposedly wanted to keep it a secret – and paid Stormy Daniels 130,000 US dollars (around 119,000 francs) in hush money. In court, Stormy Daniels wanted to have the agreement annulled with the help of Avenatti.
He is said to have stolen from his own clients
But in March 2019, Stormy Daniels separated from her lawyer because he is said to have stolen from her. A short time later he was arrested for attempting to blackmail Nike.
Avenatti is also charged in Los Angeles – with theft, bank fraud and tax evasion. The lawyer is said to have ripped off his clients and stolen millions of dollars from them. (ouch)