A lawsuit in 2019 alleged a “humanitarian crisis” was unfolding at the prison after a power failure resulted in prisoners experiencing frigid temperatures for multiple days. MDC has also faced problems recently with inmates testing positive for the coronavirus.
The 1,600-inmate prison, which houses both male and female inmates, is divided into four security levels depending on the prisoners’ crimes: minimum, low, medium, and high.
High-profile inmates include rapper
R Kelly and Pharma bro Martin Shkreli, both of whom were transferred elsewhere, as well as
Donald Trump‘s former lawyer
Michael Cohen, who was put back into federal custody last week after breaking house arrest.
Maxwell, now joining the ranks of MDC’s notable inmates, was arrested on charges of allegedly helping Epstein recruit, groom, and sexually abuse minors as young as 14. Based on the charges, Mr Frantz said she would likely be held either at the medium or high security level area during her time in MDC.
“That’s where the gangs are, the rapes, the beatings, the stabbings, the violence. That’s where all that stuff occurs,” he said.
Security is one major concern for Maxwell, as the
Bureau of Prisons (BOP) does not want another high-profile inmate to have a similar fate to that of Epstein.
The financier was held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Lower
Manhattan in July 2019 while awaiting his trial.