Michael Avenatti sentenced to 4 years in prison for stealing from Stormy Daniels

A federal judge in New York on Thursday sentenced disgraced lawyer Michael Avenatti to four years in prison for stealing money owed to his former client, onetime adult film actor Stormy Daniels, for writing an explosive 2018 book.

U.S. District Court Judge Jesse Furman called the defendant’s theft from Daniels “craven and egregious” and said he was fueled by “blind ambition.”

The defense had proposed that Avenatti be sentenced to three years in prison, while prosecutors had sought four years behind bars.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Avenatti is rightfully paying a “substantial” price for his “brazen crimes.”

“Lawyers have a duty to be loyal and advocates for their clients. Far from being a loyal advocate for his client, Michael Avenatti stole his client’s identity and her money in order to line his own pockets,” Williams said in a statement.

“Now, Avenatti will serve a substantial prison sentence for his brazen crimes and betrayal of his client.”

In February, Avenatti was convicted of wire fraud and identity theft for pocketing about $300,000 of the $800,000 advance that Daniels was paid for her book, “Full Disclosure,” which included details about an alleged affair she had with Donald Trump before he was president.