Michael Avenatti Jailed on Eve of Nike Extortion Trial (4)

Celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti was jailed in California for bail violations, a week before he was scheduled to go on trial in New York for allegedly trying to extort millions of dollars from Nike Inc.

Avenatti was arrested in Los Angeles Tuesday for allegedly engaging in fraudulent transactions aimed at dodging creditors. In a hearing Wednesday, U.S. District Judge James Selna revoked the lawyer’s bail. The judge said he thought it was likely Avenatti would engage in the same conduct if allowed to remain out on bail.

The sudden development clouds the beginning of Avenatti’s trial in New York. U.S. ...