By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters). -Michael Avenatti a celebrity attorney who challenged former President Donald Trump should be serving consecutive sentences for the two previous criminal convictions. On Friday, prosecutors rejected his request to serve concurrent time.

Avenatti (51), rose to stardom on cable news in 2018 after defending Stormy Daniels in lawsuits against Trump. The Los Angeles lawyer, however, was relegated to the sidelines after he was accused of stealing $25 million and exchanging it with Daniels. Nike Inc (NYSE:).

Federal prosecutors from Manhattan, who earlier this year convicted Avenatti of embezzling almost $300,000. in Daniels’ book proceeds, filed a late Thursday court filing recommending that he serve a substantial prison sentence for fraud and a two year sentence for identity theft.

Both sentences were added to his 2-1/2-year sentence for Nike’s 2020 conviction.

The prosecutors stated that “not only did defendant lie to and take from someone in violation of his solemn responsibilities, but simultaneously he was appearing as Daniels’ champion on television.”

Jesse Furman (U.S. District Court) is expected to sentence Avenatti in June 2.

Last week, Avenatti asked for a sentence of three years in Daniels’ case. One year would be concurrent with his Nike sentence. This will reduce Avenatti’s overall time behind bars.

Avenatti’s legal staff stated that the Government’s recommendation was simply too high to meet federal sentencing goals.

Avenatti has promised to appeal the guilty verdict.

In exchange for keeping quiet about Trump’s 2016 election regarding sexual encounters Daniels claims she had with him, Trump’s ex-lawyer Michael Cohen gave Daniels $130,000.

Avenatti succeeded in releasing Daniels from the nondisclosure agreement she had with Trump.