Michael Avenatti found guilty in fraud trial over Stormy Daniels book money

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/04/verdict-reached-in-michael-avenatti-fraud-trial-over-stormy-daniels-book-money.html

A New York jury convicted disgraced celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti of swindling his former client, porn star Stormy Daniels out of money she was owed for a book.

The guilty verdict is the second conviction for Avenatti in Manhattan federal court. He was previously convicted at a separate trial of an extortion scheme against athletic apparel giant Nike.

Avenatti before his downfall had been a leading critic of former President Donald Trump.

Daniels has claimed that she had a one-time sexual tryst with Trump years ago. Trump has denied her allegations, but his former lawyer Michael Cohen has said he paid Daniels hush money before the 2016 presidential election to keep her quiet about her claims.

He is scheduled to be sentenced May 24 in the Daniels fraud case. The trio of criminal prosecutions and lack of income has left him effectively broke.