A jury found TV pitchman Kevin Trudeau guilty of criminal contempt of court Tuesday for willfully violating a court order by misrepresenting his book in a series of infomercials.
Trudeau's bond was revoked and he was immediately taken into custody.
Trudeau supporters packed the courtroom Tuesday, and many were seen crying in the hallway after the verdict was read.
The government had claimed Trudeau violated his court order, signed on Sept. 2, 2004, when he aired three infomercials in 2006 and 2007 pitching his book "The Weight Loss Cure, 'They' Don't Want You to Know About."
Prosecutors claimed Trudeau was the master of a shell game with ITV (which aired the infomercials), "to make it look like he wasn't responsible for what was happening."
"Everyone has hopes and dreams, and con men prey on those hopes and dreams. The defendant is one of those con men," prosecutor April Terry said in her closing arguments.
The jury of six men and six women was tasked only with deciding whether Trudeau violated the order, not if the weight loss protocol sold by Trudeau was actually effective.
No sentencing date was set. The judge has complete latitude on Trudeau's punishment, ranging from probation to extensive time in prison.
Defense lawyers say Trudeau plans to appeal.
