Michael Avenatti, once a high-profile attorney and media sensation, might see his prison sentence shortened after a federal appeals court decision that challenges aspects of his 14-year term. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in California ruled that the trial judge made errors when sentencing Avenatti, including improperly adding an obstruction of justice charge and overlooking the value of Avenatti’s legal work for his clients.
This recalculation could reduce Avenatti’s time behind bars, which includes a total of 19 years for both his convictions in New York and the 14 years for defrauding four clients out of millions of dollars. He had also been convicted of attempting to extort $25 million from Nike, as well as misappropriating proceeds from Stormy Daniels’ memoir.
Avenatti gained notoriety for representing Daniels, real name Stephanie Clifford, in her legal battle against former President Donald Trump. His frequent appearances on TV turned him into a prominent figure before his fall from grace in 2019, when he was charged with extortion.
The appeals court decision offers Avenatti another chance, as it suggested that the sentencing judge should have treated all of his fraud cases similarly, which could mean the sentences will run concurrently, potentially shortening his time in prison.
A new sentencing hearing will be scheduled in California. Avenatti’s legal troubles, including his extortion case and charges related to defrauding Daniels, have left his career in tatters, with his earlier appeals failing to reverse his convictions.
