The verdict in U.S. District Court in Manhattan came two years after Avenatti gained widespread notoriety for his representation of porn star Stormy Daniels in her legal disputes with President Donald Trump.

The bombastic attorney, who briefly flirted with running for the Democratic presidential nomination, faces two other pending federal criminal cases this spring related to alleged thefts of millions of dollars from clients, including Daniels, and other serious charges.

"I think he's in a bit of a state of shock," one of his defense attorneys, Danya Perry, told reporters after the verdict, which Avenatti plans to appeal.

"But he's a fighter, as you all know, and he's staying strong."

Daniels posted a statement on Instagram, saying: "Sadly, it appears what Michael Avenatti did to me was just the tip of an iceberg of deceit. I am not surprised his dishonesty has been revealed on a grand scale."