Agreeing that the guideline range is too harsh, a New York federal judge on Thursday sentenced Michael Avenatti to four years in prison for defrauding Stormy Daniels out of book-contract money in 2018.

U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman in the Southern District of New York said he hopes the case “will send a message to lawyers” across the country that if they steal and lie to clients, “you will pay a steep price.”