Las Vegas Attorney Michael Sanft, 55, Found Dead After Defending Tupac Murder Defendant

Michael Sanft, a 55‑year‑old Las Vegas attorney, was found dead at his home on Thursday night, according to sources who confirmed the death on Friday.

Sanft served as the lead trial attorney for SOS Injury Lawyers and had tried more than 150 cases before juries, including arguing before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

He gained national attention as the defense lawyer for Duane “Keffe D” Davis during the murder trial concerning the 1996 drive‑by shooting that killed rap artist Tupac Shakur. A jury found Davis guilty in August, and he was sentenced to 40 years to life—20 years to life for first‑degree murder and an additional 20 years to life for a deadly‑weapon enhancement.

Sanft represented Davis without charging him for his legal services during the high‑profile Las Vegas trial.

Earlier in his career, Sanft defended former Las Vegas City Councilwoman Michele Fiore in her 2024 wire‑fraud and conspiracy case; he withdrew after Fiore was convicted by a federal jury and later pardoned by President Donald Trump.

Born in Tonga, Sanft moved with his family to San Diego at age 12, later attended Brigham Young University and Brigham Young University‑Hawaii, and completed a two‑year proselyting mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints.

Authorities have not released details about the circumstances of his death, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and Clark County Coroner’s Office have not provided additional information.