Disgraced attorney Michael Avenatti pleaded guilty Thursday to embezzling millions of dollars from four of his clients, taking another step closer toward resolving a flurry of federal charges against him.
Avenatti pleaded guilty in Santa Ana, California, to four counts of wire fraud for each client he stole from and one count of endeavoring to obstruct the administration of the Internal Revenue Code. Prosecutors said Avenatti obstructed the IRS’ effort to collect $5 million in unpaid payroll taxes for a company he operated known as Tully’s Coffee. Judge James Selna set Avenatti’s sentencing for September 19. Avenatti faces a statutory maximum of 83 years in prison, although his sentence would likely fall below the maximum. Avenatti’s plea resolves one of two remaining criminal cases against him. The former lawyer, a pugnacious critic of former President Donald Trump who once considered a presidential run of his own, fell from grace after being hit with three federal indictments in a six-week period in 2019.
