In 2019, Gary Franklin, the founder and coach of a youth basketball program, California Supreme, sought Avenatti’s help in getting Nike to reform its practice in what he alleged were illegal payments to families of college recruits, according to Sports Illustrated. Instead, Avenatti saw it as an opportunity to extort money from the sporting goods giant. According to court documents, Avenatti attempted to get as much as $25 million from Nike. If the company didn’t pay his client and also provide a well-paid consulting agreement for him and his high-powered attorney friend Mark Geragos, Avenatti threatened to hold a press conference airing Franklin’s claims that he said would plummet Nike’s stock prices. “I’m not f****** around with this, and I’m not continuing to play games,” Avenatti told Nike’s lawyers (via ABC News).
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For his attempt to swindle Nike out of millions of dollars, Avenatti was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison in July 2021. “He hijacked his client’s claims, and he used him to further his own agenda, which was to extort Nike millions of dollars for himself,” said the judge (via Newsweek), adding, “He outright betrayed his client.” Avenatti’s sentence was significantly lower than what the prosecution sought in the case. “I alone have destroyed my career, my relationships, and my life. And there is no doubt I need to pay,” said Avenatti, per Metro. But that light sentence would be just a drop in the bucket of what was to come.
