Associated Press - February 24, 2010 5:14 PM ET

CHICAGO (AP) - A federal judge has refused to give infomercial pitchman and author Kevin Trudeau permission to visit Canada next month while he is appealing his 30-day contempt sentence in Chicago.

Judge Robert Gettleman said Wednesday an appeals court has set Trudeau's bond - which requires that he surrender his passport - and he can't interfere with the higher court's order.

Trudeau sells books advocating "natural cures" for a variety of ailments. He is fighting the government over alleged misleading advertising.

Gettleman last week sentenced Trudeau to 30 days for getting his supporters to flood the judge's computer with messages, locking up his e-mail.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.