Michael Avenatti charged with trying to extort more than $20 million from Nike Posted Mar 25, 2019 Federal prosecutors in Manhattan on Monday charged lawyer Michael Avenatti with attempting to extort more than $20 million from Nike. Avenatti was arrested Monday in Manhattan. According to the criminal complaint, Avenatti threatened to release damaging information about the company if Nike didn't pay millions to himself and an unnamed co-conspirator. (CNN.com)