A federal judge sentenced celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti to 30 months in prison for attempting to extort Nike Inc (NYSE: NKE) and for defrauding a client.

In February 2020,  a jury in New York found Avenatti guilty on all three counts of criminal charges against him--transmission of interstate communications with intent to extort, attempted extortion, and honest services wire fraud.

Avenatti threatened to publicly accuse Nike of illegally paying amateur basketball players unless the athletic apparel company paid him millions of dollars. He also defrauded his client, Gary Franklin, a youth basketball coach who retained him to settle his potential claims against Nike.

The celebrity lawyer did not tell Franklin about his plan to threaten Nike and demand extortion payments totaling $25.5 million. Avenatti threatened Nike that he will hold a press conference to announce allegations of misconduct by the company's employees. He told Nike that he will not hold the press conference if it would pay his demand. Franklin was shocked when he learned about Avenatti's plan to extort Nike.

During the sentencing on Thursday, US District Judge Paul Gardephe said, "Mr. Avenatti's conduct was outrageous." he added that the celebrity lawyer had become drunk on the power of his platform, or what he perceived his platform to be."

On the other hand, Avenatti wept while telling the court, "I betrayed my own values, my friends, my family, and myself. I, and I alone, have destroyed my career, my relationships, my life."

In addition to serving 30 months in jail, Judge Gardephe sentenced Avenatti to three years of supervised release.

In a statement, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “Michael Avenatti used illegal and extortionate threats and betrayed one of his clients for the purpose of seeking to obtain millions of dollars for himself.  Not only did Avenatti attempt to weaponize his law license and celebrity to seek to extort payments for himself, but he also defrauded his own client.  Avenatti will now serve substantial time in prison for his criminal conduct.”

Avenatti is still facing two other criminal charges, one in California for allegedly defrauding clients and committing tax-related offenses and one in New York for allegedly stealing $300,000 of Stormy Daniels' advance for her book contract.

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