Federal prosecutors in Manhattan on Wednesday announced they have charged Michael Avenatti with fraud and aggravated identity theft for allegedly stealing nearly $300,000 from his former client and adult film star, Stephanie Clifford, who performs under the name Stormy Daniels.

In an unsealed federal indictment, prosecutors said that Avenatti had stolen a “significant portion” of an advance Clifford was being paid on a book deal.

Prosecutors alleged that Avenatti forged Clifford's name on a letter to her literary agent, instructing two payments of nearly $150,000 to be sent to a bank account under Avenatti's control. According to the indictment, Clifford did not know about the bank account, and half of the diverted sum has yet to be repaid.