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US Jury Finds Michael Avenatti Guilty of Defrauding Stormy Daniels

Former attorney Michael Avenatti makes his way through a crowd of news cameras as he arrives at the United States Courthouse during his criminal trial in Manhattan in New York City, Jan. 27, 2022. / Reuters
February 4, 2022

NEW YORK (Reuters)—Lawyer Michael Avenatti, who rose to fame for taking on then-president Donald Trump before a slew of criminal charges ended his legal career, was convicted on Friday of defrauding a former client, porn star Stormy Daniels.

Avenatti had pleaded not guilty to charges he embezzled nearly $300,000 in book proceeds intended for Daniels.

The verdict by a federal jury in Manhattan followed a trial in which the brash, 50-year-old lawyer represented himself.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis)