Incarcerated TV Pitchman Don Lapre Found Dead

He was indicted on 41 counts Updated: Monday, 03 Oct 2011, 8:01 AM MST Published : Sunday, 02 Oct 2011, 9:22 PM MST FLORENCE, Ariz. - Embattled TV pitchman Don Lapre was found dead of an apparent suicide in his cell Sunday morning. The manner of his death has not been confirmed, but we've learned from U.S. Marshals that his body was indeed found at 8:30 a.m. Sunday at a holding facility in Florence. Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Matt Hershey says at first glance, his death appears to be a suicide -- but the investigation is ongoing. His trial was due to begin Tuesday. Lapre was being held in federal jail without bond, awaiting trial on charges of defrauding at least 220,000 people out of nearly $52 million. Prosecutors accused him of selling worthless vitamins that could not live up to advertising claims. Lapre was arrested June 23 in Tempe by the U.S. Marshals Service after failing to appear a day earlier for his arraignment. He had been camping out inside a Lifetime Fitness locker room. A grand jury indicted the 47-year-old on 41 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and promotional money laundering in connection to his company "The Greatest Vitamin in the World."

• 2011-10-03T16:10:05+00:00
• Duration: 00:44

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