News Michael Avenatti, lawyer who battled President Trump, charged with extorting Nike, embezzlement and fraud March 25, 2019March 25, 2019 Bart Jansen and Kevin Johnson and Kevin McCoy, USA TODAY Comments Off on Michael Avenatti, lawyer who battled President Trump, charged with extorting Nike, embezzlement and fraud Federal prosecutors filed extortion and conspiracy charges against Avenatti in New York. He was charged in Los Angeles with embezzlement and fraud.