U.S. District Judge James V. Selna ruled on technical grounds that federal prosecutors failed to turn over relevant financial evidence to Michael Avenatti, the former attorney for Stormy Daniels accused of stealing millions from his clients.
A California judge declared a mistrial Tuesday in the embezzlement trial of attorney Michael Avenatti, who is charged with stealing millions in settlement money from his clients.
U.S. District Judge James V. Selna ruled on technical grounds that federal prosecutors failed to turn over relevant financial evidence to Avenatti, who has been representing himself in the case with assistance from advisory counsel. Another hearing in the case was set for Sept. 2, and Selna scheduled a tentative new trial date for Oct. 12.
It was the second trial in recent months for the 50-year-old lawyer who once represented porn actress Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against then-President Donald Trump.
Avenatti was sentenced in July to 2 1/2 years in prison in a $25 million extortion case in New York.
Federal prosecutors in Southern California have accused Avenatti of cheating five of his clients out of nearly $10 million by negotiating and collecting settlements on their behalf and funneling the payments to accounts he controlled while lying to them about what happened to the money.
In one instance, prosecutors alleged Avenatti collected $4 million from Los Angeles County for a man who suffered injuries in custody and was left paraplegic after a suicide attempt, paying out much smaller amounts that he told the man were advances.
Advertisement
Avenatti, who is suspended from practicing law in California, had pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of wire fraud in connection with the allegations spanning from 2015 to 2019. He denied embezzling money and said his law firm was entitled to recoup expenses if settlements were reached.
The mistrial related to a database used by the firm. Lawrence Rosenthal, a Chapman University law professor, said fully understanding large, complex databases can be challenging when they’re created by someone else.
In addition to these counts, Avenatti faces charges of bankruptcy, bank and tax fraud in California. He is expected to be tried on those allegations at a later date after Selna split a 36-count indictment into two trials.
Avenatti also faces another criminal case in New York in which he is charged with cheating Daniels out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Avenatti represented her in 2018 in lawsuits against Trump and often appeared on cable news programs to disparage the Republican president.
Dallas police are investigating after two people were found dead inside of an apartment.
Officers responded to a welfare check call on the 6000 block of Ridgecrest Road around noon Wednesday.
Upon arrival they found 27 year old David Stewart and 24 year old Jimena Nunez deceased inside from gunshot wound. They also found two children ages 3 years old and 8 months alive inside.
Authorities said they received a call Sunday from a neighbor regarding shots being fired at the apartment. When officers went to the home they knocked on the door but no one answered so they left.
When they came back to the apartment Wednesday and discovered the deceased couples body they also noticed their car missing.
At this time authorities have no suspect(s and are working to locate the missing vehicle.
A second person was arrested on Tuesday in connection to the death of a 5-year-old Dallas boy.
On Monday, 5-year-old Zamaurian Kizzee was found dead in his home located in the 2800 block of Silkwood Street. The little boy showed signs of prolonged physical abuse.
Hours after Dallas police discovered the boy dead, his mother, Tiffany Williams, 26, was arrested and charged with Injury to a Child/Serious Bodily Injury.
Williams admitted to hitting her son with a closed fist the day of his death. She also admitted that he was physically abused daily.
The following day, 74-year-old Ulysses Kizzee was also arrested. He is charged with Injury to a Child/Serious Bodily Injury by Omission, a first-degree felony.
The Dallas Police Department has not confirmed exactly how Kizzee is related to the little boy. However, a domestic disturbance incident filed with DPD earlier this year disclosed that Ulysses Kizzee and Tiffany Williams have been in a relationship for 9 years.
Advertisement
A 3-month-old, 1-year-old, 3-year-old, 6-year-old, and 7-year-old, have been removed from the home. Child Protective Services say there is a history with the family.
R & B singer R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison Wednesday for racketeering and sex trafficking.
U.S. District Court Judge Ann Donnelly handed down the sentence after long deliberation and testimony from several of Kelly’s victims.
Robert Sylvester Kelly’s attorneys argued that he should only get 10 years in prison but the federal prosecutors recommended he be sentenced to more than 25 years.
During the trial several victims came together and spoke out about the sexual abuse and pain they endured throughout the years.
One victim who was identified as Jane Doe said Kelly made her perform sexual acts.
Attorneys also brought up the late Aaliyah and how R. Kelli married her while she was 15.
“I felt special, because someone who was special to the world was interested in me,” she said, adding, “I hope you go to jail for the rest of your life.”
As judge Donnelly handed down the singers sentencing the victims stood together, held hands and prayed. The judge also put in consideration Kelly’s childhood involving sexual assault, poverty and violence.
Advertisement
Back in 2019 Kelly was arrested and accused of leading an organization where he would recruit underage women and subject them to sex crimes.
Kelly was charged with bribery, kidnapping, forced labor, sexual exploitation of a child, sexual trafficking across state lines and racketeering involving six victims. He was also accused of breaking the Mann Act, which makes it illegal to take anyone across state lines “for any immoral purpose“.
During testimony Kelly listened to all his accusers and did not take the stand during his trial.
