Michael Avenatti Indicted for Allegedly Extorting Stormy Daniels
Michael Avenatti has just been indicted on separate charges alleging he extorted a former client ... and sources tell TMZ it's Stormy Daniels.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York has charged the disgraced attorney with 1 count of wire fraud and 1 count of aggravated identity theft charges. The feds say he fraudulently diverted money Stormy was owed on a book deal to an account he controlled.
According to prosecutors, he did this by sending a fraudulent letter purporting to contain his client's signature to Stormy's literary agent. According to the complaint ... Stormy didn't know the letter existed much less sign off on it.
He allegedly used the money from that account to fund airfare, hotels, restaurants, meal deliveries and meet payroll for his businesses. In total, he allegedly diverted around $300k ... and although he sent her around half of that, prosecutors say he hasn't paid her the remaining balance.
