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.
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.
Dang, maybe I should write some books.