New York: Michael Avenatti was convicted on Friday of defrauding porn actress Stormy Daniels to the tune of approximately USD 300,000. Stormi was to get this money to write a book about an alleged meeting with former US President Donald Trump. Avenatti defended herself in the case. It was yet another defeat for the California lawyer, who has been mired in legal trouble after gaining fame as one of Trump’s key opponents on ‘cable news’.
Speaking to reporters outside federal court in New York, Avenatti said: “I am deeply disappointed by the jury’s decision. I await a final decision on all issues related to the appeal.’ Judge Jesse M Furman ordered Avenatti to surrender to the US Marshals in California on Monday. Avenatti was sentenced in 2020 to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to a count of extortion.
However, he has delayed serving his prison sentence in a California federal court hearing a book-and-fraud case. Meanwhile, in an interview with Inside Edition at his New Orleans residence, Stormi said he was happy the jury made the “right decision.” “Justice has been served, but there is still a long way to go. Justice does not come with money, because if it were so, they would never have got it.’ Avenatti will be sentenced on May 24 in the case.
