Infomercial Shill Kevin Trudeau Sentenced To 10 Years For Repeatedly Defrauding Consumers

Back in November, TV pitchman, bestselling author and repeat offender Kevin Trudeau was found guilty of criminal contempt after continuing to make fraudulent weight-loss claims in the marketing of his book The Weight Loss Cure “They” Don’t Want You to Know About. Yesterday, they had their final say in the matter, sentencing the fraudster to a decade behind bars.

“Since his 20s, he has steadfastly attempted to cheat others for his own gain,” explained the judge at Monday’s sentencing.

Back in 2004, Trudeau was slapped on the wrists by the FTC for making misleading claims in advertisements and marketing about a calcium product he claimed could cure cancer, and something called “Biotape” he said could permanently cure or relieve severe pain. As part of that settlement, he agreed to no longer make misleading product statements about the things he marketed.

In 2007, he was found in contempt of that agreement for misrepresenting the content of his bestselling book, not revealing to consumers that the “easy” weight-loss actually requires, among other things, and prescription injections of hormones found only in pregnant women.

And yet he continued to make deceptive claims about the book. In the most recent slate of infomercials, Trudeau said that the program required no exercise when it in fact calls for an hour of walking each day, along with a potentially dangerous 500 calorie/day diet.

Prior to being sentenced, Trudeau had tried to convince the court that he, swear-to-God, cross-his-heart wouldn’t lie again if given the chance.

“I have truly had a significant reawakening,” he claimed. “If I ever do an infomercial again … I promise: No embellishments, no puffery, no lies.”

But it looks like the only infomercial Trudeau will be doing for the next few years is his version of George Bluth’s Caged Wisdom.

“He has treated federal court orders as if they were mere suggestions,” said the judge, “or impediments to be side-stepped, out-maneuvered or just ignored.”

by Chris Morran via Consumerist