"King of Infomercials" found dead in Arizona jail cell

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - A TV infomercial pitchman accused of defrauding more than 226,000 people out of nearly $52 million has died in his Arizona jail cell of an apparent suicide, authorities said on Monday.

Donald Lapre, 47, was found dead at about 8:30 a.m. on Sunday at a facility in Florence, Arizona, where he was being held on fraud and other related charges, U.S. Marshal's spokesman Matt Hershey said.

Lapre, the self-proclaimed "King of Infomercials," was awaiting a trial next October after being indicted on 41 charges stemming from a nationwide scheme to sell what was billed as "The Greatest Vitamin in the World."

Hershey declined to say if Lapre had been on a suicide watch or how he could have killed himself, citing an ongoing investigation.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/03/us-infomercial-pitchman-death-idUSTRE79269A20111003

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First Billy Mays and now Lapre. I'll bet the ShamWow is going to be sleeping with one eye open.

[richmwill]

1. His obituary will be placed in tiny classified ads in thousands of newspapers...

So sorry, I couldn't resist.

[Safetykitten]

2. Did he have a Snuggie on?

[liberal N proud]

3. Doing infomercials can be deadly

[MADem]

5. What is it with that line of work? Billy Mays....! nt

[mac56]

4. Shoulda called before midnight tonight.

[jzola]

6. That's a private prison.

I'm pretty sure. One of Jan Brewer's finest.

[customerserviceguy]

7. Glad this article used the words 'self-proclaimed'

Ron Popeil was the true king of the infomercial, he pretty much invented the concept.

[Tutankhamun]

8. I'd like to see that Kevin Trudeau scammer back

In jail. He was there once for some kind of fraud infomercial charges, but claims he saw the light in jail. When he got out he wanted to help people through (bullshit) infomercial products. "Natural Cures 'They' Don't Want You To Know About" or something like that. "Repair your credit free" etc. Crap books.

[jmowreader]

10. I missed out on the Trudeau case

Getting thrown in jail for ripping people off through infomercials, then going back to it (with a different line of ripoff products) after you get out looks very much like Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom overselling "Prisoners of Love" after getting thrown in jail for overselling "Springtime for Hitler."

[Connie_Corleone]

12. His ass needs to get locked up again.

He goes from one scam to another.

[leftyladyfrommo]

13. Isn't he something?

IO've seen some of his latest stuff - now its all about getting free money. And he always has beautiful women wearing low cut dresses and short skirts and tons of makeup. They sit there and try to look interested. It's hilarious.

I read one of his books because a friend of mine bought it - one on health cures. He claimed he was really 67 years old or something like that. I think he really is in his 40's.

He is just completely nuts.

There are several of those guys out there right now claiming that you can make a zillion dollars with their program. I guess a lot of depressed, discouraged people buy into all.

[russspeakeasy]

9. ...and that's not all....

[Connie_Corleone]

11. I remember Lapre! Tiny classified ads and 900#s.

[Javaman]

14. Ron Popeil weeps. nt