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Attorney Michael Avenatti, who rose to fame for taking on former president Donald Trump, was found guilty by a federal jury on Friday on charges he'd defrauded a former client, the adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Avenatti represented Daniels when she made the explosive claim that Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid her hush money during the 2016 presidential campaign to keep quiet about allegations she'd had a sexual affair with the married Trump.

Cohen admitted the payoff, and pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance laws.

Trump denied the affair, but Avenatti became a fixture on cable-TV programs and the face of one of the most salacious scandals of the Trump administration.

The attorney even flirted with a run for president. But his fortunes faltered after he was hit with dozens of criminal charges of defrauding clients, and attempting to extort $25 million from apparel-maker Nike.

Daniels, his former client, said the lawyer embezzled money meant for her as part of a book deal. Avenatti pleaded not guilty to the charges, and represented himself at trial.

He downplayed the dispute as a disagreement over legal fees, and claimed his contract with Daniels entitled him to a share of her book and media profits.

He is appealing his conviction and 2 1/2 year sentence in the Nike extortion case. Friday's guilty verdict means he could face up to 22 years behind bars.