According to court papers filed Sunday, Michael Avenatti, a disgraced attorney, wants to plead guilty in California to federal charges and to admit to stealing millions from clients.
Avenatti, who is his primary counsel, stated that he plans to "plead open," which allows a judge to set the punishment without any plea agreement.
According to H. Dean Steward, Avenatti's advisory counsel and documents filed, "Despite repeated efforts by Mr. Avenatti, his counsel, and substantial efforts made during the last 30 days," defendant was unable to agree to a plea deal with the government.
"Mr. Avenatti would like to plead in order to accept responsibility; avoid his ex-clients being further burdened; save Court and government significant resources; and spare his family further embarrassment."
On Monday, a representative of the California federal prosecutors could not be reached for comment.
Prosecutors claim that Avenatti allegedly stole almost $10 million in settlement funds between 2015 and 2019, from at least five of his clients, including Geoffrey Johnson (Alexis Gardner), Gregory Barela (Michel Phan) and Long Tran.
Avenatti is currently in custody for the crimes against Nike and Stormy Daniels. He asked a federal judge in Southern California for a video hearing in order to accept his plea change.
Avenatti was sentenced earlier this month to four years imprisonment for taking money from a publisher. The money was supposed to be sent to Daniels for her book "Full Disclosure," in which she detailed details about an affair she had before Donald Trump became president.
In 2020, Avenatti was convicted of extortion and transmission of interstate communication with intent to extort. He also committed wire fraud in connection to threats he made against Nike.
