High profile attorney Michael Avenatti was freed on $300K bond late Monday night, hours after he was arrested and charged with wire fraud and extortion in a case involving sportswear giant Nike.
Avenatti did not enter a plea in court and he was ordered to surrender his U.S. and Italian passports. His travel is restricted to the Southern District of NY and the Central District of California where he is scheduled to attend court hearings in April.
A prosecutor called Avenatti’s actions “an old fashioned shakedown.”
Avenatti, 48, spoke briefly to reporters gathered outside the courthouse in Lower Manhattan. “I will never stop fighting that good fight,” he said. “I will be fully exonerated and justice will be done.”
He denied shaking down Nike for over $20 million – even though the feds caught him on video and audio demanding money in meetings with Nike lawyers.
Federal prosectors accuse Avenatti of threatening to release damaging information alleging that Nike made payments to the families of high school and college basketball recruits.
In two meetings with Nike lawyers in New York City last week, Avenatti threatened that if his demands were not met, he would hold a press conference on Monday, March 25, that would “take ten billion dollars off your client’s market cap” by causing the company stock to tank. He added, “I’m not f—ing around!”
During the negotiations, Avenatti implied that “90 percent” of singer R. Kelly’s accusers were lying. Avenatti turned over sex tapes to Chicago prosecutors that resulted in new charges against the 52-year-old singer.
Avenatti laid out a scenario for Nike lawyers if he released damaging information about Nike:
“as soon as this becomes public, I am going to receive calls from all over the country from parents and coaches and friends and all kinds of people – this is always what happens – and they are all going to say ‘I’ve got an email or a text message…’ 90% of that is going to be bullshit because it’s always bullshit 90% of the time, always, whether it’s R. Kelly or Trump.”
Legal analysts say Avenatti’s statements could jeopardize the case against R. Kelly.
The anti-Trump lawyer demanded $1.5 million to be paid to his client, the coach of a California AAU basketball team whose contract with Nike was not renewed. Avenatti also asked Nike for $15 million to $25 million to retain his services and the services of celebrity attorney Mark Geragos to conduct an “internal audit” for Nike.
In court documents, Avenatti suggested the outcome of the internal audit would be favorable for Nike. He also offered Nike a “confidential settlement” of $22.5 million in hush money to make him and Geragos go away quietly.
“Full confidentiality,” he said. “We ride off into the sunset.”
As part of his bond a judge ordered Avenatti not to mention Nike publicly. But Avenatti violated the terms of his bond within hours of his release.
Around 3:30 a.m. Eastern Time, Avenatti tweeted:
“Any claim that Nike or their attorneys at Boies (the firm that represented Weinstein and Theranos) have been “cooperating” with the government for a year is bogus. They lied to prosecutors for over a year in connection with the Addidas case and hid their own payments to players.”
He deleted the tweet a few minutes later, after his Twitter followers warned him that he could end up back in jail by morning.
And while I'm no expert on American federal criminal procedure, you should probably not tweet about this
— Some Dude (@EmmanuelSpamer) March 26, 2019
CNN legal contributor Geragos, 61, was not named in the federal indictment, but he was named by the Wall Street Journal as Avenatti’s co-conspirator “celebrity attorney CC-1”.
CNN quickly cut ties with Geragos hours after he was named as Avenatti’s co-conspirator. By Monday evening all traces of Geragos as a CNN contributor were scrubbed from CNN’s website.
Avenatti faces up to 107 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images, David McNew/Getty Images
Will they start building suites to accommodate all these rich wyte folk going to prison?
Chile … this is a bunch of damn mess …..anyone https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6f810f9dcac935e19c5cd01c08f3297b7f95d43412be1355598b96703fee26e5.gif lying period can go to hell …. sick of folks !
Is that Chris Brown in the picture? Is the gentleman his lawyer?
A circus this world is…..I tell ya!
I think so.
Yes with those razer blazer cheekbones…smh.
This is wayyyyy too damn much …. worse than an actual directed movie chile …. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6c60e4bde84d29fc6e8e3c273e08211babb8127f7e929a1cfba8ea28fc5d1535.gif
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? the other 10% and the tapes still exist Robert
What’s going on with these privileged entitled clear folks lately? They’ve been acting up like no one business.
Eeeddiott! smh
Welp. That aint take long
1) Avenatti is having a meltdown, pressures (divorces?) are getting to him. or 2) He’s a crazy man. Crazy men would go to Nike and be taped demanding money. Crazy men would know they are being taped and do it anyway.
As soon as Avenatti got involved in the R. Kelly case I knew it was a wrap for him doing any kind of time.
Like I said down yonder, Geragos wasn’t charged because Geragos only agreed to help investigate he wasn’t present in the demanding of the monies. He is PAID, way more than Avenatti. Breezy keeps Geragos paid.
Lolololol like damn https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c22bbb0726b55780d5b8daabf5e7ff036f5e7db69467497fbef25caabddf4b73.gif
“Avenatti implied that “90 percent” of singer R. Kelly’s accusers were lying. Avenatti turned over sex tapes to Chicago prosecutors that resulted in new charges against the 52-year-old singer.”
That seems like a contradictory statement.
This is getting good…Now he is admitting that his fake clients lied….he is going down and taking his crew with him….Kim Foxx is next…when it comes to her R Kelly…they are playing her tape on what she said about R Kelly prior.
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Seems like Avenatti & Geragos got a little too bold and reckless….Thats like me going to a lemonade stand and telling the owner I saw them steal lemons from the market to make it so I need a cut of the profits…what in the get down or lay down mob type stuff is this???
Dammmmn…CNN wasted no time!
So if the accusers are lying why is he…nevermind
Y’all have heard of the song “CrazySexyCool, right? Welp this MoFo is CrazyStupidDumb. You don’t have to tell me twice this white ninja going down.
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That is so NOT what he said. What he said is (paraphrasing) “Once a story comes out about a person… hoes come from every direction with an experience and 90% of it is bull$hit… that’s just the way it goes.” that’s VERY different than saying R. Kelly’s accusers are lying. This is so irresponsible and misleading.
For one, it helps to push that narrative that women who accuse men who are famous are lying because an “attorney” said so when that ain’t even what he said. What if some woman is reading THIS $hit and was about to come out with her story? Just setting women back in the name of clicks. You haven’t figured out that we’re going to click regardless because we’re here for EACH OTHER at this point and you’re just a benefactor of that kinship at this stage?
I get that you’re a blogger, but this flat out lying about REAL $hit is pretty insulting. Lie about celebrity “who’s zoomin’ who” but $hit like rape and child molestation should be left up to the professionals.
i don’t think he said HIS client was lying on RK though… but i’m confused by this whole sitch, sooooooo…… *trails off*
…and on top of that he broke AF. How you “supposedly” making all that bread yet you had to have two people co-sign your bail “guaranteeing” the bail money just to get you out of the butt pokey? Dude, seriously?
Too much going on to keep up with.
I’m screaming, so funny, so true!
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Avenatti. Lawyerdom birthed him, his kith and kin. All of the same ilk.
OAN: I’m adding random movies to my Netflix queue and listening to Al Wilson, whom I do not know, and his song “Show and Tell”, which is familiar to me and is quite frankly, a jam. *snaps fingers*
you have a good ear for good music… https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ee231a7f42c9d78c0049dfc94bd5dcfd8f2f55d8e0ac9b4b392d32b520384aab.gif
He is 48. He did it.
Real Life #JERRYSPRINGER
Once a White Collar Criminal always a Criminal….he gave up control of his law firm to settle a dispute with a former partner who alleged he was draining its assets to finance a lavish lifestyle and avoid paying a $10 million judgment. Then felony domestic abuse charge…but this guy was thinking about running for President in 2020. He was hoping for a big pay out from the RKelly case.
Sounds like a good idea.
the prison industrial complex(ion) condos? LOL!
Because he is broke and needed a come up and the R Kelly drama came at the right time…I always said he was sleezy.
I’m done! UNBELIEVABLE!
My mom always says, when someone is caught, cornered, going down, refrain from cheering or gloating because God will turn their wrath away from them!
Whatever happens in the future with R. Kelly, will still be a huge deal because whatever a judge permits is what will determine his fate!
I never liked this guy, standing on his soap box, while being dirty AF!
Let the “white folks” grab some headlines for a long minute!
Absolutely. I have had mote than one incident occur & did not report because of how female victims are treated & society as a whole.
Follows right behind you sis…………..——–>>>>
Off topic but Jussie Smollett all charges just dropped I do believe theyare announcing it now . Say WHATTT!
well..what do yall expect??? he is a crooked lawyer …period…..he prolly broke af…..so what better way to get your coins up with an good old fashion shake down??? oh well…let him explain that to Bubba Bust Ass when they put him in the clank…..moving on–>
What??————–>>>> runs off to look at ZMT
WHUT???!!!
let me get on over to YT… (thanks hun!)
They are streaming live a press conference about to start
OMG!!!! YOU ARE RIGHT!!!! ITS ON TMZ NOW!!!! WTF????????
If this is true, I kept saying I believed him & everyone told me I was crazy.
???? @ whos Zoomin’ who?
YO… ? ? All I want to do is zoom-a-zoom-zoom-zoom
And a poom-poom, just shake ya rump
All I want to do is zoom-a-zoom-zoom-zoom
And a poom-poom, just shake ya rump
All I want to do is zoom-a-zoom-zoom-zoom
And a poom-poom, just shake ya rump
All I want to do is zoom-a-zoom-zoom-zoom
And a poom-poom, just shake ya rump
Check baby check baby one two three four
Check baby check baby one two three
Check baby check baby one two
Check baby check baby one??
The Feds usually have their ducks all lined up in a row before you charge you, which is why their conviction rate is something like 95%. When you reach the charging document on Avenatti, it’s clear they’ve got the goods on him (text mesaages, emails, etc…).
http://cdn.cnn.com/cnn/2019/images/03/25/u.s..v..michael.avenatti.complaint.pdf
I dont see any way he avoids a conviction & prison time on this.
My my my!
Thanks sis!!!
Jussie case is dropped and he got community service
Yes baby
Right! This fool is losing his mind!
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But his reputation is forever ruint.
Chile…
http://m.tmz.com/#!article/2019/03/26/jussie-smollettt-plea-bargain-charges-dropped-dismissed/
I’m sick and tired of rich people getting off for doing stuff us regular folk couldn’t get away with.
Same here! On this very blog ?
These people are the pits.
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Sh*t that’s the breaks. U know how it goes .
lol
Me too sis! Every morning my sister kept coming at me with the new details and I kept saying I believe him until I hear all of the evidence lol
Guessing after that DA tried to recuse herself, they couldn’t find anyone else willing to prosecute the Batty Boi https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8eb524c58a22966c38d1caa3c798a97ed0e5504b5a3b92d31a63d0f02963aef3.gif
Lmao! Juicy doing that dance RIGHT NOW!
Just read that. All he had to do was surrender $10k for his bond & his record will be clean.
Smh ! Hes a dam criminal just the rest of them. Got some nerve
““After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smollet’s volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago, we believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case,”
^^^^ This is some straight foolishness right there. This nigro had the Chicago Police going on a wild goose chase for the better part of a month, and they’re giving him credit for his “volunteer service in the community”? smh. I know that’s how it goes, but it still ticks me off.
Nobody is voluntarily doing community service. Jussie is guilty. The damage is done but the higher ups are still hoping to save Empire and don’t need this case getting anymore attention.
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they making my head hurt, LOL!
Whew Chilay!!!!!!
WTF is going on?
Chile… That dude lied! Chicago is CORRUPT! Thats how R Kelly got away for all those years!
it’s tew murch, smh
Now if my homegirl could get the same pass for her felony possession she would be good….damn. I told her $$ talk . Better get that 30k lawyer.
Thanks to Kim Foxx friends telling her to make it a federal case and getting advice…..I am glad…I hope he give a sincere apology and move on Empire is done and he has been kicked out of the LGBTXXXXX club…
Off to my 11:30 Damnitt man, I am going to miss the press conference. Cho!!!
Well, aren’t you fancy and thorough? Thanks for the attachment. His ex-wife, Stormi Daniels, & tRump must be salivating.
For this dude to be an attorney for so many yrs, he acts like he don’t know much ab the law… I mean shouldn’t he have known what he was doing was extortion?… And if the judge tells you NOT to mention Nike to the public, then why would you post on twitter ab Nike just within hrs after you got released from jail??… Wtf??… Does he think he above the law? And where did he get his law degree from Devry Univ?… Wtf is REALLY up with this dude?
Sadly, he is cocky as hell! That the downfall.
Exactly! All the while folks are in Cook county on marijuana possession charges?
Are we in the upside down?
The matrix?
Just shows that most times, justice isn’t even so much about black or white. GREEN is the most important color.
Mercury retrograde.
Something …cause none of this is real.
Kim Fox is next. If they got her on tape talking about RKelly…its over for the state…
“I will never stop fighting that good fight,” he said. “I will be fully exonerated and justice will be done.”
He’s sure stupid! Nike has text messages, emails, and recorded chats with the loser. Nike’s not dumb.
Italian cockiness…..
Can I listen to RKelly again in public?
The Superintendent is out….
Yes..she admitted that she did a full investigation prior to the Life Time story and did not find anything she could charge him with…then she use her own sexual abuse issue to get people to come froward.
I heard they got her on tape discussing this. If so she gonna lose her job too. The whole state is going down….
There is a difference in Coporate and Criminal Attornies…He was a Corporate Attorney…well a disgrace one.
That where I got that statement from..one of her tapes.
?
Robert ( RKelly) is innocent..
He did that shyt *in my 50 cent voice*
I was at the doctors and spending time with my 357457 godkids so I missed this wtf???
I wonder if he attempted to blackmail Kelly before turning the tapes over. Karma has touched this creature.
Kelly probably just didn’t have the money to psy
Maybe he got on Wendy’s bus. ?
You know he did!
Yep! Coz they still aren’t renting to Blacks!
We all know they don’t really do hard time. They just come out, write books and get more endorsements.
I’m an attorney and you would be surprised by the stupid ish “we” do. At some point, some start believing they are so smart and sophisticated, that they law will never touch them.
EXCELLENT POINT.
He doctored the new R. Kelly sex tapes. He’ll be doing time for that soon.
Why you stop? Fux these folks..
My attorney always says they pay him a lot to lie and get away with ishhh…
I hope so.
Nothing makes sense. Nobody is who they’re supposed to be. Folks scrambling all over the place.
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Thats what is said. He was in it with the Savages. Something like he tried to shake KELLZ down and Kellz said hell to the naw. Thats why hes been going hard trying to ruin him. Every time ANYTHING negative was said about KELLZ he flammed the fire. ?????Welp GOD definitely dont like ugly.
You should have never stopped? …tf
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