If the Federal Trade Commission is to be believed, Kevin Trudeau is a snake oil salesman the likes of which have not been seen since the days of the wild west in America. A true miracle-elixir-slinging Perrelli of the first order, Trudeau has made millions – maybe hundreds of millions – off selling books and products to people that claim to cure nearly everything that could imaginably ail you. Even cancer.

Trudeau’s life is one littered with stories of fraud, lawsuits, and lawsuit settlements. He was jailed for fraud in the late 90’s, but came out to join a nutrition company that was later found to be a pyramid scheme. He settled that case for a slap on the wrist and headed out to where the big money was to be made: in infomercials.

Trudeau’s first big book, Natural Cures “They” Don’t Want You to Know About, actually contained no cures. He said he could not include them because of the FTC. But they were there, he promised. And to prove it, he released another book that you could buy More Natural Cures Revealed: Previously Censored Brand Name Products That Cure Disease. This one purported to actually have the names of those cures.

Trudeau then published The Weight-Loss Cure “They” Don’t Want You to Know About and Debt Cures “They” Don’t Want You to Know About.

Trudeau’s sales appeal to people because he uses an enigmatic “they” that many people believe is profiting from the ignorance of the public. He may have a point that such conflicts of interest exist. But his cures have been debunked widely, and the only only left benefiting from selling them is Trudeau.

Finally, Trudeau was called to task and ordered to pay hefty fines. But he has hidden his wealth in offshore accounts and filed bankruptcy personally so he can not be forced to pay any of the fines imposed on him by the FTC.

According to NBC, Friday federal Judge Robert Gettleman stopped short of throwing Trudeau in jail for failing to pay fines that had been ordered on him, saying that he thought the government stood a better chance of getting the money out of Trudeau if they kept him out of jail.

Trudeau has been ordered to pay $37 million. He says he doesn’t have it. But, as the judge pointed out, he spent $12 million and $6 million on lawyers fighting the case. And like a religious zealot, Trudeau tells his still-loyal fans that he is being persecuted for telling them the truth that “they” don’t want people to know.