Ghislaine Maxwell, the former madam of the late billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, is allegedly receiving “special treatment” in prison. This claim is being made by the former Real Housewives of Salt Lake star Jen Shah, who was locked up with Maxwell until December of 2025.
Maxwell’s Alleged ‘Special Treatment’
Shah, 52, met Maxwell, 64, while they each served their sentences at the Federal Prison Camp, Bryan (FPC Bryan) in Texas. In a new interview, Shah told People Magazine that Maxwell “was treated very well” at the facility. Indeed, according to Shah, Maxwell was “afforded things [in prison] that nobody else was afforded, like private workout sessions, special meals, bottled water.”
“Everybody witnessed it. And I know that firsthand because I worked in [recreation] so I would have to clean things up,” Shah recalled. “I was also asked for certain equipment because she was going to go work out late at night.”
Shah went on to describe Maxwell’s alleged “special treatment” as being “concerning.” She added that Maxwell received special treatment in other ways as well.
“There’s a process you have to go through to schedule your legal calls,” Shah explained. “She would not have to go through the same process.”
Watch Shah talk more about this in the video below.
Bureau Of Prisons Fires Back
A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons has since fired back to dispute Shah’s claims about Maxwell’s treatment. This spokesperson insisted that the organization “is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, impartiality, and professionalism in the operation of its facilities.”
“Allegations of misconduct, including any suggestion of preferential treatment, are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated through established internal processes, including the Office of Internal Affairs and, when appropriate, the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General,” the spokesperson continued. “BOP Program Statement 3420.12 CN-1, ‘Standards of Employee Conduct,’ explicitly prohibits all staff from providing preferential treatment to any inmate.”
“Staff are required to treat all inmates equitably, in accordance with law, policy, and institutional security and safety protocols. Any deviation from this standard undermines public trust and the fair administration of justice,” concluded the spokesperson. “Violations of this policy are subject to a full range of disciplinary actions, up to and including removal from federal service and potential criminal prosecution.”
Maxwell is currently serving a 20 year prison sentence. This was given to her after she was convicted on five of six sex trafficking charges in December of 2021. These charges stemmed from her years-long connection to Epstein, who allegedly committed suicide in prison in August of 2019. At the time, Epstein was awaiting trial for his own sex trafficking charges. Maxwell was arrested one year later.
Shah Doubles Down On Maxwell Claims
Maxwell was transferred to Shah’s prison in July of 2025. The disgraced biotech entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes is also housed at this facility, and Shah said in her new interview that the two of them became fast friends. When it came to Maxwell, however, Shah and Holmes kept their distance.
“I chose to keep my distance,” Shah stated. “I just feel like there should be a level of remorse for the victims and she made it very publicly known — well, at least to Elizabeth and [me] — that there’s no remorse there. She outrightly said it.”
Shah added that Maxwell “was just in complete disregard for” the victims of Epstein and her alleged crimes when she say them on the prison television.
“And this is when they are pouring their hearts out in front of Congress for those files to be released,” Shah concluded. “To be so dismissive of that? That just didn’t sit with me the right way.”
Shah did her time in prison because of her role in a telemarketing conspiracy. Though she was given a six-and-a-half year sentence, she only ended up serving 33 months before her release. Meanwhile, Holmes was sentence to eleven years behind bars after pleading guilty to fraud and conspiracy in January 2022. However, that sentence has since been shortened to nine years.
As for Maxwell, she’s been desperately trying to appeal her sentence. Unfortunately for her, however, these efforts have yet to proven successful in any way. Only time will tell if Maxwell can turn things around and be a free woman again anytime soon.