Michael Avenatti to be released on $300,000 bond
Attorney Michael Avenatti will be released this evening on a $300,000 bond.
Avenatti, who was represented by two federal defenders, was not asked to enter a plea and did not do so.
When the judge asked Avenatti if he understood the charges against him, he replied, “I do, your honor.”
He was also ordered to give up his passport and cease contact with an unnamed witness. Avenatti will only be allowed to travel to New York and California.
Attorney Mark Geragos is the unnamed co-conspirator in the Avenatti criminal complaint
Attorney Mark Geragos is the unnamed co-conspirator referred to in the Southern District of New York’s criminal complaint against Michael Avenatti, a source familiar confirms to CNN.
The complaint described the co-conspirator as “an attorney licensed in California who’s known for his representation of celebrity and public figure clients.”
Geragos has not been charged with a crime.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report that Geragos was the unnamed co-conspirator.
Geragos did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.
Geragos, who has represented a number of high profile clients including Chris Brown and Jussie Smollett, was a CNN contributor.
Avenatti was arrested this morning outside of the offices of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP in Manhattan, according to a source.
A Nike lawyer, who cooperated with the investigation and is referred to as “Attorney-1” in in the charges, is Boies Schiller Flexner LLP partner Scott Wilson, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Nike says it “will not be extorted”
Nike released a statement today after prosecutors in New York announced charges against attorney Michael Avenatti for attempting to extort more than $20 million from the company.
Read the statement:
“Nike will not be extorted or hide information that is relevant to a government investigation. Nike has been cooperating with the government’s investigation into NCAA basketball for over a year. When Nike became aware of this matter, Nike immediately reported it to federal prosecutors. When Mr. Avenatti attempted to extort Nike over this matter, Nike with the assistance of outside counsel at Boies Schiller Flexner,…
