A federal appeals panel has made a significant decision regarding the case of suspended lawyer Michael Avenatti. Avenatti, known for representing porn star Stormy Daniels against former President Donald Trump, had received a 14-year sentence for defrauding his California clients. However, a three-judge panel for the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the sentence was based on incorrect calculations of the loss suffered. As a result, they have sent the case back to a judge for resentencing.
The panel also discussed the possibility of Avenatti's sentence running concurrently with the prison time he is currently serving for other charges. These include stealing book proceeds from Stormy Daniels and attempting to extort Nike.
Avenatti, who has been suspended from practicing law in California, has been representing himself in this case. Despite not reaching a plea deal with federal prosecutors, he pleaded guilty in 2022 to four counts of wire fraud and a tax-related charge. Avenatti expressed a desire to be accountable and spare his family further embarrassment.
Authorities revealed that Avenatti had negotiated and collected settlement payments on behalf of his clients, only to divert the funds to his own accounts and use them for his personal extravagant lifestyle.
In response to the ruling, Avenatti's attorney, H. Dean Steward, stated that Avenatti is encouraged by the decision and looks forward to the upcoming hearing ordered by the Court. The US Attorney's office in Los Angeles, which handled the prosecution, declined to comment on the recent development.
This decision marks a significant turn in the legal saga of Michael Avenatti, a once-prominent figure in high-profile legal battles, whose actions have now led to legal consequences and ongoing judicial proceedings.
