The sentencing judge said the suspended attorney 'has done great evil for which he must answer.'
Avenatti's latest sentencing follows his guilty plea in June to a tax-related charge and four counts of wire fraud. At the time, he said he wanted to spare his family from any additional embarrassment. At the sentencing Monday, the judge said Avenatti"has done great evil for which he must answer." One of the clients Avenatti stole from was a paraplegic man with mental health issues, prosecutors noted.
"Michael Avenatti was a corrupt lawyer who claimed he was fighting for the little guy," said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada in a statement."In fact, he only cared about his own selfish interests. 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.
An attorney for Avenatti, H. Dean Steward, called the sentencing"'off the charts' harsh and unfair. Compared to other high profile fraud cases, the sentence imposed was totally uncalled for."
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