(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) US ATTORNEY FOR CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA NICK HANNA SAYING: "If convicted of the 36 crimes alleged in the indictment, Mr Avenatti would face a statutory maximum sentence of 333 years.

Plus a mandatory two year consecutive term." A federal grand jury in Los Angeles on Thursday indicted attorney Michael Avenatti with a whopping 36 charges ranging from fraud to embezzlement.

(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) US ATTORNEY FOR CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA NICK HANNA SAYING: "These four areas of criminal conduct are all linked to one another because money generated from one set of crimes was used to further other crimes." The 61-page indictment alleges that Avenatti stole millions of dollars from clients, including a paraplegic.

(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) US ATTORNEY FOR CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA NICK HANNA SAYING: "Avenatti had drained the entire $4 million payment from his trust account, using significant portions of these funds to finance his coffee business, auto racing enterprise and his own personal lifestyle." Avenatti - who rose to fame representing Stormy Daniels against U.S. president Donald Trump - allegedly stole the money from that trust.

Money he won for the client in a settlement.

(SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) US ATTORNEY FOR CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA NICK HANNA SAYING: "The other three client matters, are similar.

In one case, after receiving $2.75 million dollars for a client, Avenatti allegedly took nearly all that money and used it to pay for his portion of a private jet, which we seized yesterday." In total, five clients were allegedly ripped off by the high-profile attorney, who was also charged with tax crimes.

Avenatti responded on Twitter, calling the charges "bogus nonsense," and declaring, "I look forward to proving my innocence." The indictment came just weeks after he was hit with criminal charges in New York.

In that case, Avenatti is accused of trying to shake down Nike in an extortion scheme.