He will not pass go and head directly to jail. TV huckster Kevin Trudeau is actually being allowed to travel to Washington, D.C. next week to attend his own legal defense fundraiser on Monday and then report to the federal lockup on Tuesday.
Such leniency struck court buffs as odd because the judge and the government both believe Trudeau is dripping rich and this entire legal saga is centered on his ability to pay $37 million in fines.
"I feel pretty good. I feel good so far," said Kevin Trudeau.
That may change in six days, when Kevin Trudeau has been ordered to surrender to federal authorities in Chicago and remain behind bars until he comes clean about how much money has and where it is so that he may pay almost $38 million in court imposed fines.
In court Wednesday afternoon Federal Trade Commission lawyer Jonathon Cohen said: "Trudeau has not been fully cooperative, candid or forthcoming. There's nothing further we can do to get to the bottom of this. Coercive incarceration will force Trudeau to be forthcoming."
Trudeau's attorney Kimball Anderson said "no rational sane person would subject themselves to these ongoing court proceedings for cuff links and coins," chiding the government's position that Mr. Trudeau is a picture of wealth.
Judge Robert Gettleman ordered the super salesman to jail after Monday's legal fundraiser in D.C.
"We would prefer that he be enforcedly incarcerated immediately so that consumers can get redress ASAP but I can't predict what will happen over the next six days," said Jonathon Cohen, FTC attorney.
The "Stand with KT" legal defense fundraiser on Monday follows similar lavish dinners on Trudeau's behalf, including one in Miami last year featuring petit filets, parmesan truffle potatoes and cheesecake lollipops.
Trudeau says he doesn't have any money to pay his federal fines and on Wednesday was equally equipped to discuss the upcoming fundraiser.
"I really don't know much about it. It's just an appearance. It's just a fundraising dinner," said Trudeau.
Trudeau was sent to jail for a night last month and released on the promise he'd cooperate with federal authorities about his finances. They say he wasn't.
He continues to claim that he doesn't have the money to pay those civil fines imposed for misleading consumers in ads for his diet book.
The criminal part of the case against Trudeau goes to trial in 3 weeks. His lawyers say it's prejudicing that case to put him in jail now.
