Ep 9. Kevin Trudeaus SecretsRemington Steal
- TVPG
- July 10, 2015
- 2580 min
Kevin Trudeau's Secrets: Remington Steal is the ninth episode of season 9 of American Greed. This episode delves into the story of Kevin Trudeau, a controversial entrepreneur, and author who was convicted of criminal contempt in 2013. He was found guilty of violating a court order that banned him from making false claims in his infomercials.
Trudeau claimed that his book, The Weight Loss Cure 'They' Don't Want You to Know About had a cure for obesity that was being hidden by the government and the pharmaceutical industry. He advertised his book through infomercials that aired on television, and he sold millions of copies.
However, the book was found to have false claims, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit against him in 2004. Trudeau was ordered to pay a settlement of $37 million to the FTC, but he never did. Instead, he continued to live a lavish lifestyle, spending millions on cars, private jets, and luxury real estate.
In this episode, American Greed takes a closer look at Trudeau's scheme and how he defrauded thousands of people with his false claims. The show interviews some of his victims, who lost money and hope in their pursuit of weight loss.
The episode also highlights the role of Peter Wink, Trudeau's business partner, who helped him set up shell companies to hide his assets. Wink was later convicted of contempt of court and was sentenced to 10 years in prison for defying court orders to assist in recovering Trudeau's hidden assets.
Another key character in this story is Remington Steal, a woman who worked for Trudeau's shell companies. She testified against him in court and revealed that she helped him hide his assets and deceive his customers. Steal received immunity in exchange for her testimony and helped the authorities recover millions from Trudeau's hidden accounts.
American Greed also shows how Trudeau tried to intimidate his critics and obstructed the investigation against him. He even went on national television to claim that he was being persecuted by the government and that his book had a cure for cancer.
But in the end, Kevin Trudeau's secrets were exposed, and he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for criminal contempt. He was also ordered to pay a $37 million fine, which remains largely unpaid.
Overall, Kevin Trudeau's Secrets: Remington Steal is a compelling episode of American Greed that exposes the dark side of the weight loss industry and the dangers of false claims. It shows how one man's greed and deception can ruin the lives of thousands of people and how the authorities can take action against fraudsters who try to evade justice.