August 24, 2021
A California federal judge declared a mistrial Tuesday more than a month into Michael Avenatti's criminal wire fraud trial, ruling that the government did not disclose potential exculpatory evidence related to bookkeeping software Avenatti's firm used to track case expenses.
August 18, 2021
Michael Avenatti squared off Wednesday with a federal agent involved in the investigation that led to the suspended attorney's criminal trial on wire fraud charges, peppering him with questions in California federal court about bookkeeping data Avenatti suggested is missing from the government's evidence presented to the jury.
August 17, 2021
Michael Avenatti set out Tuesday to convince a California federal jury considering wire fraud charges that he didn't scam his own clients, calling a former attorney from his law firm on the first day of his defense aimed at bolstering arguments that clients owed him the money that prosecutors claim he stole.
August 13, 2021
Federal prosecutors presented the crux of their wire fraud case against Michael Avenatti to a California jury Friday, with a financial expert testifying about a tangled "spider web" of transactions he said the suspended attorney undertook while moving his clients' money around to pay debts, pay other clients and purchase an airplane.
August 12, 2021
Michelle Phan, a makeup artist whose skills shot her to fame on YouTube and a successful business empire, told a California federal jury Thursday she was "devastated' upon realizing that her former attorney, Michael Avenatti, stole $4 million of her money connected to a business deal.
August 11, 2021
The California federal criminal trial of Michael Avenatti was delayed Wednesday after a juror reported a potential exposure to someone with COVID-19, prompting the judge overseeing the case to send everyone home for the day.
August 10, 2021
A business associate of YouTube star Michelle Phan told a California federal jury Tuesday that their attorney, Michael Avenatti, provided "constant excuses" about why millions of her money was not wired into her account following a business deal, leading them to eventually go to the police.
August 06, 2021
A business associate of YouTube star Michelle Phan told a California federal jury Friday about his frustrated attempts to track down $8 million attorney Michael Avenatti was supposed to have wired Phan as part of a sale of her share of the popular makeup subscription service Ipsy.
August 05, 2021
A former client of Michael Avenatti testified Thursday in California federal court that he believes the suspended attorney stole his $1.1 million legal settlement payment, lied about it repeatedly and supplied him with phony settlement documents that altered the true payment dates.
August 04, 2021
An attorney who co-represented makeup artist Michelle Phan with Michael Avenatti in the $35 million sale of her ownership interest in makeup subscription company Ipsy testified in California federal court Wednesday that Avenatti could never explain what happened to $4 million the government says he illegally pocketed in the deal.