Behind the walls of a federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas, three prominent women—once fixtures in corporate boardrooms, reality TV screens, and elite social circles—are now living markedly different lives. Ghislaine Maxwell, Elizabeth Holmes, and Jen Shah are among the inmates navigating a daily routine defined by strict schedules and standard-issue khaki uniforms.
Ghislaine Maxwell, 62, who was convicted for trafficking underage girls in connection with Jeffrey Epstein, has recently been transferred to Bryan Federal Prison Camp, the same minimum-security facility that houses Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and Real Housewives of Salt Lake City personality Jen Shah.
While the facility lacks high-security features—there are no perimeter fences or barbed wire—the inmates must still follow a tightly structured regimen. Wake-up calls are at 6 a.m., and roll calls occur multiple times a day.
“Inmates are treated in a mature and responsible manner,” notes the facility’s handbook, as reported by the BBC, “and are expected to act accordingly.” Even seemingly minor infractions—such as leaving a bunk unkempt, oversleeping, or missing count—can result in disciplinary action.
Life inside the Bryan camp revolves around labor, education, and recreation. Each inmate is required to maintain a job, with pay ranging from 12 cents to $1.15 an hour in departments such as maintenance or food service.
Beyond work, inmates may take courses in subjects like business, languages, or fitness; attend religious services; or participate in approved leisure activities, including television. Meals follow a standard Federal Bureau of Prisons menu, with fare like chicken, tacos, and macaroni. Each meal period lasts one hour. Visitation is limited to weekends and holidays, with only modest physical contact allowed.
Maxwell’s relocation to Bryan comes amid renewed public scrutiny of the Epstein investigation, after the Justice Department recently announced it would not release additional records tied to the sex trafficking case.
She now joins a prison population of around 500 women, most of whom are non-violent offenders. Many of the inmates—including Holmes and Shah—were convicted for white-collar crimes such as fraud.
Holmes arrived at Bryan in May 2023 to begin serving her 11-year sentence for defrauding investors through her blood-testing startup, Theranos. Once celebrated as a Silicon Valley visionary, Holmes now sleeps in a shared dormitory, eats in a communal dining hall, and earns a fraction of what she once did in the tech world.
According to People, Holmes has reportedly struck up a friendship with fellow inmate Jen Shah. Shah began her prison term in January 2023 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of a nationwide telemarketing scheme. Her sentence was later reduced, and she is now scheduled for release on November 3, 2026.
In a blog post dated May 30, shared through her representative, Shah opened with the phrase “Bismillah” and provided an update: “I am in great spirits and well,” she wrote. She also expressed a commitment to fitness and to helping fellow inmates with their rehabilitation goals.
“I wanted to share a personal image that I mailed to my team of one of my shahmazing workouts,” she wrote, describing a jump rope session outdoors. “The consistent love and admiration from my supporters, my loving family, and my faith keeps me going.”
Her representatives say she is actively making restitution payments and focusing on rebuilding her life for when she reunites with her family.
