Martha Stewart‘s prison ‘best friend’ has accused the lifestyle guru of lying about the harsh conditions she allegedly endured during her infamous stint behind bars.
The mogul, 83, reflects on her ‘terrible’ time at FPC Alderson, a minimum-security federal prison for women in West Virginia, in the new eponymous Netflix documentary about her life.
Stewart, who served five months at the facility known as ‘Camp Cupcake’ for her role in an insider trading scandal, revealed she was once thrown in solitary confinement where she was denied food and water.
‘I was dragged into solitary for touching an officer,’ Stewart says in the documentary film. ‘No food or water for a day. This was Camp Cupcake, remember? That was the nickname. Camp Cupcake. It was not a cupcake.’
But fellow former inmate Lisa Guarino, 62, has come forward to poke holes in Stewart’s sob story and revealed why the domestic diva’s claims about being subjected to such a punishment are not plausible.
The ex-convict, who was locked up alongside Martha at the facility, told DailyMail.com: ‘That’s a lie. There is no solitary confinement at Alderson.
‘If you get any sort of punishment to the level of solitary confinement, you get sent to a federal lockup in Philadelphia.’
Martha Stewart reflects on her ‘terrible’ prison stint in her new Netflix documentary and reveals she was once thrown in solitary confinement where she was denied food and water
But Stewart’s fellow inmate and ‘prison bestie’ Lisa Guarino, 62, (pictured) has poked holes in Stewart’s account and accused her of lying about the harsh conditions behind bars
Guarino also went on to discredit Stewart’s claims about not being given food or water for a day.
‘I’m not a fan of the federal government or police, but Martha is lying,’ she added.
‘There was always plenty of food and water. It may not be the best food, but it was available.
‘I’ve never heard of any punishment consisting of withholding food and water.’
When asked for comment by DailyMail.com, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) corroborated Guarino’s claims and confirmed Stewart’s allegations ‘do not accurately reflect’ the conditions at the facility.
‘While some facilities have restrictive housing units, the Federal Prison Camp Alderson does not have one,’ a FBOP representative said.
‘In cases where it becomes necessary to temporarily remove an individual from the general population, FBOP facilities may use secure observation areas under direct supervision. While in these areas, incarcerated individuals are consistently provided with regular meals and access to potable water.
‘These allegations do not accurately reflect the conditions or the procedures that would be followed, as the FBOP remains committed to providing humane treatment and ensuring basic needs are met at all times.’
An undated handout from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, shows a cell in the Alderson Federal Prison Camp, a minimum security facility
Stewart and Guarino met at Alderson Federal Prison Camp also known as ‘Camp Cupcake’ – a 159-acre federal prison ground that is more akin to a college campus
The famed domestic goddess started her sentence at FPC Alderson in West Virginia on October 8, 2004. She was released on March 4, 2005
Guarino spoke out against Stewart’s claims in the documentary during a tell-all interview with DailyMail.com about her prison stint with the queen of crafts two decades ago.
The former self-proclaimed ‘cocaine queenpin of Boston’ – whose 4ft 11in build earned her the street name ‘Little Italy‘ – was serving seven years for possessing and intending to distribute more than five pounds of cocaine.
Stewart, meanwhile, had just convicted of four counts for her role in a stock trading scandal, and was due to begin her five-month sentence in October 2004.
She was found guilty of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and two counts of making false statements to federal investigators.
Guarino described Stewart as her ‘best friend’ with whom she formed a close bond, spending most of their time together and confiding in one another about their lives behind bars.
She said she took Stewart under her wing, helping her adapt to prison life, and even preparing meals for her using smuggled kitchen supplies.
She even recalled one incident when she had to save a not-so-prison-savvy Stewart from trouble with another inmate.
So when Guarino watched the hit Netflix documentary about her former prison pal she was disappointed to see Stewart’s apparent misrepresentation of her stint behind bars.
She scoffed at Stewart’s comments about being ‘warned but not protected’ in prison – claiming Martha was ‘bait’ and ‘wouldn’t have made it out of prison unscathed without my help.’
Martha’s six-week trial in Manhattan became a media sensation. Her daily arrival at court was captured by dozens of cameramen
Stewart was sentenced to five months in prison in July 2004 following her conviction on charges stemming from a dodgy stock deal
‘If it weren’t for me, Martha could have been seriously injured or worse that night, she was frightened to death but looking back on it, I don’t think it ever permanently registered in her mind,’ Guarino said.
The terrifying prison altercation unfolded after Guarino and Stewart went into an upstairs area of the unit and found the curtains drawn – a sign not to enter or disturb.
‘I told Martha I think we should leave, but Martha insisted that this was her area and opened them,’ Guarino said.
‘As soon as she opened, we saw several girls in all forms of being undressed and in sexual positions. These women were known as the ‘bull daggers’ the butch gay girls in prison.
‘One of the biggest of the bull daggers named ‘Swish’ came up to Martha and told her: “You’re dead, girl”.’
The menacing threat left Martha cowering behind Guarino who felt she had to step in and diffuse the situation.
‘Swish wanted to kill Martha, for opening the curtain interrupting them. I immediately reminded Swish that she owed me and I wanted to call in the favor,’ she said.
Swish then asked, ‘You want to use the favor on this b***h?’ before turning to Stewart and saying: ‘You owe Little Italy big time.’
To make peace Guarino offered for Stewart to give them all yoga lessons, she claims.
Stewart would eventually end up expressing her gratitude being ‘grateful’ for her help and guidance during their time locked up together, according to the former convict.
The famed queen of crafts celebrated the release of the new Netflix documentary on her life, titled, ‘Martha’ last month
But 20 years after the two bonded over tough times, Guarino claims Stewart has turned her back on their friendship – and an alleged promise of financial support.
She claims Stewart had told her family during a prison visit she would give her $1million upon release – a promise, Guarino says, Stewart has not kept.
‘She told my family they no longer needed to put money on my books because she was going to take care of me,’ she says.
But after transferring to another facility, Guarino discovered her account empty.
‘I could’ve killed Martha when I found out she didn’t keep her word. She told my family they no longer had to put money on my books because she was going to take care of me, but she gave me a donut, a big fat zero,’ she says.
‘I then had my phone privileges suspended for three months so I couldn’t ask my family for money. It was hell and I suffered in part due to Martha not keeping her word.’
The chain-smoking, diminutive Guarino was released in 2006 and now lives in a one-bedroom, $1,900-a-month apartment outside of Boston, unable to work because of her medical condition and survives on $600 month in social security.
Hopeful for a reunion and for her former prison pal to make good on her promise after two decades, she attended a November 11 event at the Chevalier Theatre in Medford, Massachusetts, where Stewart was promoting her 100th cookbook.
Guarino, whose 4ft 11in build earned her the street name ‘Little Italy’ claims she was once known as Boston’s ‘cocaine queenpin’
DailyMail.com was there to witness Stewart arrive and wave at fans while Guarino attempted to get her attention, calling out her name and even making eye contact.
At one point she yelled out, ‘Martha, it’s Lisa!’, yet, Stewart, who was easily within earshot, appeared to ignore her calls and quickly averted her gaze, before slipping into the theater.
Speaking to DailyMail.com, Guarino said: ‘Martha blew me off after I saved her life in prison. She jumped the fence to not have to look at me or say something to me and ran off.
‘I’m pissed off, I’m offended.’
She added: ‘I believed Martha when she told me in prison that we were friends, but I guess when she got back into her world, she went back to her old narcissistic ways.
‘She has all the money in the world but part of me feels sorry for her. At least I have my family.’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .