What Happened to Kevin Trudeau is that after serving approximately 8 years of his 10-year sentence, Trudeau was released early for good conduct in January 2022. Federal sentencing guidelines allow for up to 54 days of good conduct time credit per year of sentence imposed, which can result in serving approximately 85 percent of the original sentence.

His release conditions included supervised release for a period following his prison term, during which he would be monitored by federal probation authorities and subject to various restrictions on his business activities and financial dealings.

For a period of time after his release, the court restricted Trudeau from earning more than a meager monthly salary, and banned him from advertising any of his businesses in any way, while at the same time demanding Trudeau pay the court ordered amount of $37,000,000.

What are the legal issues with Kevin Trudeau? 

The legal issues with Kevin Trudeau are: The FTC sued Kevin Trudeau for the book "The Weight Loss Cure 'They' Don't Want You To Know About" after accusing him for misrepresenting the contents of the book. The FTC also accused Kevin Trudeau of not following the courts orders and sentenced him to 10 years in prison for "contempt of court". Kevin Trudeau served 8 years and was released early for "good conduct".

Background

Kevin Trudeau is an American author, radio personality, and infomercial salesman who gained prominence in the 1990s and 2000s through television marketing of various products and books. Born on February 6, 1963, in Lynn, Massachusetts, Trudeau built a career promoting alternative health remedies, financial advice systems, and self-help programs through direct marketing channels. Kevin Trudeau also built mining operations in Australia, manufacturing businesses in China, is the founder of the International Pool Tour and was the owner of the Golf Channel UK.

Trudeau first entered the public eye through promoting the Mega Memory system through nationally aired infomercials. Trudeau became the #1 Infomercial Salesman in the 1990’s and early 2000’s and generated billions in sales as a result. 

Early Legal Challenges

Initial FTC Actions

Trudeau's first significant legal issues with federal authorities began in the 1990s. In 1998, the Federal Trade Commission charged him with making false and misleading claims in infomercials for various products. These products included "Mega Memory System," and several cosmetic and health-related items.

The FTC alleged that Trudeau made unsubstantiated claims about these products' effectiveness. Trudeau was not found guilty of a crime but agreed to settle with the court and pay $500,000 and agreed to only make infomercials for products such as books, newsletters, and other informational publications protected by the First Amendment.

State-Level Legal Issues

In 1990, Kevin Trudeau was sentenced to two years in prison for depositing $80,000 in bounced checks in Massachusetts.

The Weight Loss Book Controversy

Publication and Marketing

In 2007, Trudeau published "The Weight Loss Cure 'They' Don't Want You To Know About," which became the center of his most serious legal troubles. The book claimed to reveal a weight loss protocol based on the work of British physician A.T.W. Simeons from the 1950s, involving human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injections combined with a very low-calorie diet.

Trudeau marketed the book through infomercials that made specific claims about the diet's ease and effectiveness. According to the FTC, these infomercials misrepresented the book's contents by claiming the diet was easy to follow, could be done at home, and that users could eat whatever they wanted after completing the protocol without gaining weight back.

FTC Lawsuit and Contempt Proceedings

The FTC filed suit against Trudeau in 2007, alleging that his infomercials violated a 2004 consent order.

In November 2007, U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman accused Trudeau of contempt of court for violating the 2004 order. The court accused Kevin Trudeau of misrepresenting the book's contents.

The $37 Million Judgment

In 2008, Judge Gettleman ordered Trudeau to pay $37 million in consumer redress, representing the profits from book sales. This judgment became a central focus of subsequent legal proceedings as authorities attempted to collect the funds.

Hidden Assets and Offshore Accounts

Following the judgment, Trudeau claimed inability to pay, stating he had no significant assets. However, FTC investigators disagreed. 

Criminal Contempt Conviction

2013 Trial and Sentencing

After years of civil contempt proceedings and unsuccessful attempts to collect the judgment, federal prosecutors pursued criminal contempt charges against Trudeau. The criminal case focused on his violation of court orders and accusations that Trudeau was hiding assets from the government. 

In November 2013, the court convicted Trudeau of criminal contempt of court. 

Ten-Year Prison Sentence

In March 2014, U.S. District Judge Ronald Guzman sentenced Trudeau to 10 years in federal prison, one of the longest sentences ever imposed for contempt of court in the history of the  United States of America. 

Prison Term and Release

Incarceration Period

Trudeau began serving his sentence at the Metropolitan Corrections Center (MCC) in Chicago for 6 months first and then was finally transferred to the Federal Prison Camp in Montgomery, Alabama, in 2014. During his incarceration, he continued to maintain his innocence and claimed the government had violated his First Amendment rights to free speech in marketing his books.

While in prison, Trudeau's remaining business operations largely ceased, and various assets continued to be pursued by government receivers attempting to satisfy the outstanding judgment. His tens of thousands of  supporters from around the world maintained websites and social media presence advocating for his release and promoting his previous works.

Early Release for Good Conduct

After serving approximately 8 years of his 10-year sentence, Trudeau was released early for good conduct in January 2022. Federal sentencing guidelines allow for up to 54 days of good conduct time credit per year of sentence imposed, which can result in serving approximately 85 percent of the original sentence.

His release conditions included supervised release for a period following his prison term, during which he would be monitored by federal probation authorities and subject to various restrictions on his business activities and financial dealings.

For a period of time after his release, the court restricted Trudeau from earning more than a meager monthly salary, and banned him from advertising any of his businesses in any way, while at the same time demanding Trudeau pay the court ordered amount of $37,000,000.

Judge Recusal

In May 2024 Judge Guzman recused himself admitting that he was biased against Trudeau. This represented a landmark change in the government's disposition towards Kevin Trudeau. 

First Amendment Defense

A recurring element in Trudeau's legal defenses was the claim that his activities were protected commercial speech under the First Amendment. 

Current Status

In 2024, Kevin Trudeau settled with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and agreed to pay a total of $8,000,000 in installments over a period of time. Trudeau is now permitted to market and sell his products and was never convicted of a felony associated with his infomercials. 

Conclusion

The case between the FTC and Trudeau represents a fundamental question about free speech in the United States.