Michael Avenatti, the high-profile former lawyer for porn star Stormy Daniels, has been charged with stealing millions of dollars from his clients and using the money “to fund a lavish lifestyle that had no limits”.

Mr Avenatti, 48, was charged by prosecutors in California of 36 counts of theft, tax avoidance, bank fraud and lying in bankruptcy proceedings.

One of his alleged victims was a paraplegic man, Geoffrey Johnson, who won a $4 million (£3m) settlement four years ago, which he has yet largely to receive. Mr Avenatti is accused of keeping most of the money and telling his client the court had not yet paid out. The man’s attempts to buy a house were thwarted by Mr Avenatti, and the man was cut off from his social security benefits two months ago as a result of the case.

Until last month, Mr Avenatti had only provided $124,000 over 69 payments to Mr Johnson, the indictment said.

Another alleged victim received a $3 million settlement, only for Mr Avenatti to take $2.5 million of it and buy a private jet. That jet was seized by police on Wednesday.