Infomercial pitchman's belongings on auction block

Officials are auctioning items that belong to infomercial pitchman Kevin Trudeau.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported the sale of goods from Kevin Trudeau's former California vacation home would be sold starting today.

The 51-year-old is in a Chicago jail awaiting sentencing after being convicted of criminal contempt late last year.

The proceeds from the auction will go toward an unpaid $37 million fine in a related civil case. Trudeau was fined for making false claims about his diet books but claimed he was broke and couldn't afford to pay the fine.

The newspaper says the items heading to the auction block include everything from a 72-candle chandelier to gilt-framed portrait of Winston Churchill.

Auctioneers say they think the items will fetch about $100,000.