Nike Extortionist Michael Avenatti Temporarily Released From Prison Due to Coronavirus

Nike extortionist Michael Avenatti has been temporarily released from prison after becoming susceptible to the coronavirus. Click here to learn more.

Michael Avenatti
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Michael Avenatti

Attorney Michael Avenatti has been temporarily released from prison due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a report by ESPN's Mark Schlabach, Avenatti's attorneys argued that he was susceptible to the coronavirus because he recently was sickened with pneumonia. In February, Avenatti was convicted of felony charges for attempted extortion and honest services fraud, including attempting to extort more than $20 million from Nike.

U.S. District Court Judge James Selna has ruled that Avenatti should be released from his current federal detention center in New York for 90 days. He will need to spend 14 days quarantined at a federal facility before staying at a friend's house in Venice, California during the temporary release. The judge also ordered Avenatti to not open any bank accounts or credit cards and prohibited to use of computers and the internet during his release.

Avenatti was scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul G. Gardephe on June 17, but that is likely to be moved due to the current outbreak.