Disgraced lawyer Michael Avenatti wants a federal judge to delay his sentencing for trying to extort millions from Nike by 50 days due to coronavirus concerns.
His Miami-based lawyer, Scott Srebnick, wrote in the letter filed Wednesday that it would be dangerous and cumbersome for them to travel while Florida and California, where Avenatti is under home confinement, experience spikes in infections.
“Miami is now considered the ‘epicenter’ of the virus in the United States,” wrote Srebnick in the letter to Judge Paul Gardephe. “Trends in Florida and California are not encouraging.”
Avenatti — whose clients included porn star Stormy Daniels — has been riding out the pandemic at home in Venice, California. He was sprung from federal lockup in Manhattan in April over fears he could contract COVID-19 in custody.
He’s due in Manhattan federal court Aug. 19 and faces up to 42 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of trying to extort nearly $25 million from Nike.
In addition to the risks of travel, Srebnick argued that he, his client and any family members who planned to attend the sentencing would have to quarantine for two weeks since they are traveling from states with high infection rates.
Avenatti faces a new trial in October for allegedly embezzling more than $300,000 from Daniels. He represented the adult film star in a failed 2018 suit against Donald Trump.