While Trump Continues To Avoid Jail Time For His Shenanigans, Michael Avenatti Isn’t As Lucky

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This photo looks a lot more ominous when you know he’s doing hard time.  (Photo by Jennifer S. Altman/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

It is uncertain if lawyers have a stronger reputation for upholding the law or breaking it. Between the massive success of TV shows like Better Call Saul and Michael Avenatti’s career dive, I’m starting to lean toward the latter.

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Disgraced attorney Michael Avenatti was sentenced Monday to 14 years in prison and ordered to pay nearly $11 million in restitution for embezzling millions of dollars from four of his clients and obstruction. Prosecutors said he obstructed the IRS’ effort to collect $5 million in unpaid payroll taxes for Tully’s Coffee.

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Suspended lawyer Michael John Avenatti has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for defrauding his clients and for obstructing IRS efforts to collect payroll taxes from his coffee business.

— US Attorney L.A. (@USAO_LosAngeles) December 5, 2022

Oof. You know things are bad when the prefix “disgraced” before your name does not operate as an ad hom, but merely as an accurate description. Press F in the chat to pay respects.

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Look, villainy and abusing your clients’ trust is one thing, but you don’t fuck with the IRS! That’s not even my advice, that’s the Joker’s.

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Even the guy whose whole schtick is pushing over whatever seems wobbly has limits. We expected more of you, man! Everyone goofs from time to time, but if we knew you’d turn your legal career into this big of a joke we’d have given the 2018 Lawyer of the Year award to Paul Mecurio. People go to very long lengths over cups of coffee, but that has got to be an embarrassing “So what are you in for?” discussion each time you get a new cell mate.

The sentence handed down by federal district Judge James Selna will begin after Avenatti completes a five-year prison term he’s currently serving after being convicted in two separate trials in New York.

Selna also ordered Avenatti to pay over $10 million in restitution to four clients and to the IRS.

I usually feel bad about adding insult to injury. This is not one of those times.

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To any aspiring and or practicing lawyers: there are ways you want to be a story on Above The Law. This is not one of them. I thought this went without saying but clearly it bears repeating: Do not abuse the trust of your clients AND (this is an important and) for curse word’s sake, DO NOT DEFRAUD THE IRS.

Please and thank you.

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Michael Avenatti Sentenced To 14 Years In Prison For Stealing Millions Of Dollars From Clients [CNN]

Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s.  He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who cannot swim, a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at [email protected] and by tweet at @WritesForRent.

Topics

IRS, Lawyer of the Year 2018, Lawyers Behaving Badly, Michael J. Avenatti, Tully’s Coffee