Informercial Pitchman Kevin Trudeau Jailed

Judge puts well known TV figure behind bars for failure to pay $37 million civil judgment

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A federal judge in Chicago ordered a popular infomercial pitchman to be jailed on Tuesday for repeatedly failing to pay $37 million in civil fines.

Kevin Trudeau, a late-night TV pitchman who sold health products and wrote bestselling books such as Natural Cures “They” Don’t Want You to Know About, spent Tuesday night behind bars after U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman held him in contempt of court.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had accused Trudeau of hoodwinking buyers about a series of weight loss books, and in 2009 won a $37 million civil judgment, which Trudeau said he couldn’t pay because he was broke. According to USA Today, lawyers for the FTC argued that Trudeau had recently spent thousands of dollars on watches and jewelry.

Judge Gettleman told Trudeau he will remain in jail until he reveals offshore bank accounts where he’s believed to have stashed some assets.

[USA Today]