Federal prosecutors in New York and California have charged celebrity attorney Michael Avenatti with extortion and bank and wife fraud.
In the New York case, Avenatti was charged with attempting to extort more than $20 million in payments from Nike by threatening to use his ability to garner publicity to inflict substantial financial and reputational harm on the company if his demands were not met.
Avenatti, 48, had previously represented adult film star Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, in her lawsuit against President Donald Trump and his former lawyer Michael Cohen.
Nicholas Biase, spokesman for the Southern District of New York, told ESPN in a statement Monday that "the defendant was arrested earlier today and is in custody.