Michael Avenatti has been accused of pocketing a $2.5 million payment wired to him by Miami Heat star center Hassan Whiteside in January 2017 as part of a settlement deal with his client, Alexis Gardner, and putting the money towards buying a share of a private jet, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Avenatti was hired by Gardner as she looked to negotiate a financial agreement of a potential lawsuit against Whiteside, her ex-boyfriend. The accusation stemming from her suit is unknown. Avenatti managed to reach a $3 million deal with Whiteside shelling out $2.75 million as the first payment.
Avenatti was expected to keep just over $1 million to cover legal fees while leaving the rest for Gardner, but instead, he took the entire amount by claiming the first payment was his share, and her payments would come over the course of 96 monthly installments.
"We entered into a mutually agreed upon settlement more than two years ago following the end of our relationship; a settlement that reflected Alexis’ investment of time and support over a number of years as Hassan pursued a career in the NBA," Whiteside and Gardner said in a joint statement to the Los Angeles Times from Whiteside's agent. "It is unfortunate that something that was meant to be kept private between us is now being publicly reported. We have both moved on amicably and wish nothing but the best for each other."
Gardner is one of five clients that Avenatti stole money from, according to prosecutors. In addition to embezzlement, he's being charged with dodging taxes, bank fraud, perjury, and bankruptcy fraud. Avenatti is also dealing with a separate case involving Nike, a company he allegedly attempted to extort.
