Trump critic Michael Avenatti arrested on wire and bank fraud
According to the criminal complaint, he 'devised a scheme to extort a company'
Los Angeles: US attorney Michael Avenatti, who shot to fame by representing adult film star Stormy Daniels, was arrested on Monday for allegedly trying to extort money from Nike.
Details about the case were to be disclosed at a press conference in California, but according to US media reports the wire and bank fraud charges against Avenatti are linked to an alleged $20 million extortion attempt against the athletic apparel company.
Less than an hour before his arrest in New York was announced, Avenatti tweeted that he would be holding a press conference on Tuesday to "disclose a major high school/college basketball scandal perpetrated by @Nike that we have uncovered."
"This criminal conduct reaches the highest levels of Nike and involves some of the biggest names in college basketball," he added.
The celebrity lawyer represented Daniels in her lawsuit against President Donald Trump and Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen.
According to the criminal complaint against Avenatti, he "devised a scheme to extort a company by means of an interstate communication by threatening to damage the company's reputation if the company did not agree to make multi-million dollar payments to Avenatti and (co-conspirator), and further agree to pay an additional $1.5 million to a client of Avenatti's."