Sunday, October 2, 2011

TV Pitchman Don Lapre Found Dead

Incarcerated TV pitchman Don Lapre has been found dead in his prison cell.  The exact manner of his death has not been released but reports are he may have hanged himself in an apparent suicide.
 
Lapre was being held in federal prison in Florence, AZ..  U.S. Marshalls found his body in his cell about 8:30am Sunday morning.  He had been awaiting trial on charges of defrauding over 200,000 people out of nearly $52 million.  His trial was to begin on Tuesday.

Prosecutors had accused Lapre of selling worthless vitamins that did not live up to his claims.  His company, "The Greatest Vitamin In The World"  allegedly signed up over 200,000 people, promising them lucrative commission checks for selling vitamins and recruiting others to the business.  He was indicted by a grand jury on 41 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and promotional money laundering in connection to his company.
 
Lapre was arrested on June 23rd in Tempe after failing to appear at his arraignment the day before.  He was found camping out in a locker room at Lifetime fitness.  He had been held without bond ever since.  Don Lapre was 47 years old.