USA v. Avenatti

  1. January 11, 2021

    Avenatti Nike Sentencing Delayed Until May Over Virus Surge

    A Manhattan federal judge agreed Monday to delay for the fifth time the sentencing of Michael Avenatti following his conviction for extorting Nike Inc. after the embattled attorney pointed out the dangers of the spiking coronavirus pandemic all over the country.

  2. November 16, 2020

    Avenatti's Sentencing Moved To Feb. Amid COVID-19 Spike

    A Manhattan federal judge on Monday agreed to delay for the fourth time the sentencing of Michael Avenatti following his conviction for extorting Nike Inc., after the embattled attorney pointed out the dramatic spike in coronavirus cases all over the country.

  3. July 22, 2020

    Avenatti Sentencing Moved To Fall As COVID-19 Levels Rise

    A Manhattan federal judge on Tuesday agreed to delay until fall the sentencing of Michael Avenatti following his conviction for extorting Nike Inc., after the embattled celebrity lawyer raised logistical concerns about traveling from COVID-19 hot spots amid the pandemic.

  4. April 14, 2020

    Feds Slam Avenatti's Bid To Ditch Nike Extortion Verdict

    Federal prosecutors tore into disgraced attorney Michael Avenatti for attempting to escape a conviction of trying to extort Nike for $25 million, calling his bid for a new trial or acquittal "meritless" on Monday and saying the evidence at trial was "more than sufficient."

  5. March 24, 2020

    Avenatti Says Excluded Texts Undercut Nike Extortion Verdict

    Disgraced attorney Michael Avenatti says jurors who convicted him of trying to extort Nike for $25 million wouldn't have done so if they'd been allowed to see texts and emails supposedly showing he was merely following a client's implicit demands.

  6. February 14, 2020

    Michael Avenatti Found Guilty Of Extorting Nike

    A New York federal jury convicted celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti on fraud and extortion charges Friday over a scheme to squeeze Nike Inc. for upward of $25 million in exchange for holding back on negative press coverage of a purported youth basketball corruption scandal at the company.

  7. February 13, 2020

    Verdict Eludes Avenatti Jury As Questions Remain

    The jury weighing the fate of Michael Avenatti ended its second day of deliberations without reaching a verdict on charges that the celebrity lawyer tried to extort Nike Inc. for over $25 million in exchange for keeping quiet about allegations of corruption in the shoemaker's youth basketball operations.

  8. February 11, 2020

    Feds Say Avenatti Sold Out Client To Squeeze Nike For Cash

    New York federal prosecutors on Tuesday sought to drive home their claims against Michael Avenatti, saying the celebrity lawyer used his own client to try to extort Nike Inc. for upwards of $25 million in order to pay off his sizable debt.

  9. February 10, 2020

    Feds Rest Case In Avenatti's Nike Extortion Trial

    New York federal prosecutors rested their case Monday against celebrity attorney Michael Avenatti over an alleged scheme to extort Nike Inc. for millions of dollars by threatening to go public with claims of corruption in the company's youth basketball operations.

  10. February 07, 2020

    Coach In Avenatti Trial Says He Wanted To Clean Up Nike

    The California basketball coach at the center of Michael Avenatti's trial over his alleged extortion of Nike Inc. on Friday testified that he wanted Nike Inc. to "clean up" the corruption in its youth basketball program and fire two unscrupulous executives, while denying that his celebrity lawyer ever mentioned conducting an internal investigation of the company.