Best-Selling Author Kevin Trudeau Gets 10 Years In Prison For Massive Deception

Best-selling author Kevin Trudeau, whose name became synonymous with late-night TV pitches, was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday for bilking consumers through ubiquitous infomercials for his book, "The Weight Loss Cure 'They' Don't Want You to Know About." As he imposed the sentence prosecutors had requested, U.S. District Judge Ronald Guzman portrayed the 50-year-old Trudeau as a habitual fraudster going back to his early adulthood. So brazen was Trudeau, the judge said, he once even used his own mother's Social Security number in a scheme.

"Since his 20s, he has steadfastly attempted to cheat others for his own gain," Guzman said, adding that Trudeau is "deceitful to the very core."

Trudeau, whose trademark dyed black hair turned partially gray as he awaited sentencing in jail, showed little emotion as the stiff sentence was handed down at the hearing in Chicago.

Addressing the judge earlier in a 10-minute statement, Trudeau apologized and said he's become a changed man. He said he's meditated, prayed and read self-help books while locked up at Chicago's Metropolitan Correctional Center.

Trudeau violated court orders to pay a $37 million fine for alleged false marketing claims. The judge told him, “You can’t talk your way out of this.”

9/20/13

CHICAGO — A judge in Chicago has released Kevin Trudeau from jail after the infomercial pitchman spent the night behind bars for violating court orders to pay a more than $37 million fine.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that as Judge Robert Gettleman freed the 50-year-old, he warned Trudeau he’s on a “tight leash” and could be jailed again next week.

Trudeau insists he’s penniless and can’t pay the fine that stems from allegedly false claims made in his weight-loss book.

A court-appointed receiver told the judge that Trudeau insists he can’t remember basic aspects about his assets, including which banks some of his accounts are in.

To counter Trudeau’s claim he’s destitute, Federal Trade Commission lawyers Wednesday presented evidence he’s spent $920 on cigars and $359 on two haircuts.

http://news.msn.com/crime-justice/infomercial-king-kevin-trudeau-out-of-jail-after-a-day?ocid=tbmsnnews/tumblr

For someone who says he’s broke, Kevin Trudeau sure owns some fancy cuff links, the feds say.

The white-gold, diamond cuff links from swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe cost the silver-tongued infomercial king and convicted fraudster $12,500, they say.

Then there’s the overseas bookie’s account containing 73,000 Swiss francs; the Australian bank account containing $141,000; $100,000 worth of gold bars; his wife’s new apartment in Ukraine, and the unaccounted-for millions passing through businesses he controls, they say.

For five years, Trudeau has failed to pay a single cent of a $38 million fine U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman imposed on him for flouting a court-ordered ban on making false claims in his diet book infomercials.

Though he was until recently driving a $340,000 Bentley, employing two chefs and was caught spending on luxuries including $180 Vidal Sassoon haircuts and $1,000 worth of fine meats, he continues to insist he is “penniless and homeless” and can’t pay the fine. His lawyers say he’s being unfairly targeted by the “shrill” complaints of the Federal Trade Commission.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/23172101-418/throw-kevin-trudeau-back-in-jail-for-hiding-assets-feds-say.html

Trudeau’s activities have been the subject of both criminal and civil action. He was convicted of larceny and credit card fraud in the early 1990s, and in 1998 he was sued by U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for making false or misleading claims in infomercials promoting his book The Weight-Loss Cure “They” Don’t Want You to Know About. In 2004, he settled that action, by agreeing to pay a $500,000 fine and consenting to a lifetime ban on promoting products other than his books via infomercials.

On Nov. 29, 2011, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a $37.6 million fine levied against him for violating that 2004 settlement. Additionally, on remand, the district court modified its final order, requiring that he post a $2 million bond before engaging in future infomercial advertising. In April 2013 he was reported to have filed for bankruptcy to avoid fines and stay further Federal prosecution.

In September and October 2013, he was twice briefly jailed for continued failure to pay fines related to his conviction, pleading poverty while continuing to live a lavish lifestyle. In November 2013, Trudeau was convicted of criminal contempt and incarcerated. On March 17, 2014, Trudeau was sentenced to 10 years in jail stemming for his November 2013 conviction of criminal contempt.

This is incredible.

How many other ‘authors’ should ALSO go to prison?
How many salesmen?

They all go to jail for ‘embellishing’?

Hey, nobody HAS to buy Trudeau’s books. I’ve seen the guy for decades and he’s never convinced me to part with one dime.

Our current congress and idiot president, however, are FORCING me (all of us) out of my money - by LYING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

Which is a bigger crime? Which deserves lengthy prison sentences???

The white-gold, diamond cuff links from swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe cost the silver-tongued infomercial king and convicted fraudster $12,500, they say. Then there’s the overseas bookie’s account containing 73,000 Swiss francs; the Australian bank account containing $141,000; $100,000 worth of gold bars; his wife’s new apartment in Ukraine, and the unaccounted-for millions passing through businesses he controls, they say... Though he was until recently driving a $340,000 Bentley, employing two chefs and was caught spending on luxuries including $180 Vidal Sassoon haircuts and $1,000 worth of fine meats...

Dang, maybe I should write some books.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.