Michael Avenatti guilty of extortion against Nike
A federal jury in New York convicted attorney Michael Avenatti of attempting to extort as much as $25 million from Nike over threats that he would expose misdeeds in the apparel company's grassroots basketball division.
Avenatti, who rose to fame two years ago by representing adult film actress Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against President Donald Trump, was convicted on felony charges of transmission of interstate communications with intent to extort, attempted extortion and honest services wire fraud.
U.S. District Court Judge Paul G. Gardephe will sentence Avenatti on June 17. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
"Today a unanimous jury found Michael Avenatti guilty of misusing his client's information in an effort to extort tens of millions of dollars from the athletic apparel company Nike," U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said in a statement. "While the defendant may have tried to hide behind legal terms and a suit and tie, the jury clearly saw the defendant's scheme for what it was -- an old fashioned shakedown."
Avenatti, who rose to fame two years ago by representing adult film actress Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against President Donald Trump, was convicted on felony charges of transmission of interstate communications with intent to extort, attempted extortion and honest services wire fraud.
U.S. District Court Judge Paul G. Gardephe will sentence Avenatti on June 17. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
"Today a unanimous jury found Michael Avenatti guilty of misusing his client's information in an effort to extort tens of millions of dollars from the athletic apparel company Nike," U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said in a statement. "While the defendant may have tried to hide behind legal terms and a suit and tie, the jury clearly saw the defendant's scheme for what it was -- an old fashioned shakedown."
