Ghislaine Maxwell's new prison posse: Epstein madam forms 'it girl' clique that includes a crooked doctor, a bookkeeper thief, and a CFO who embezzled $9M

By BEN ASHFORD, US SENIOR REPORTER Published: 14:20, 16 June 2026 | Updated: 14:23, 16 June 2026 Her posse of super-rich pals featured princes and presidents before she was locked up for pimping girls for Jeffrey Epstein. But now Ghislaine Maxwell has formed a new 'It Girl' clique behind bars that includes two fraudsters and a crooked plastic surgeon who bilked Medicare out of $20 million, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal. Maxwell, 64, has been shunned by the majority of inmates since transferring to Federal Prison Camp Bryan in east-central Texas. But sources say Epstein's warped ex has gravitated towards a trio of convicted con artists she considers the 'finest and best educated' women in the minimum-security facility. Her three friends include Bethany Cataldi, 54, a disgraced doctor serving eight years for charging the government for non-existent procedures. Another close pal is former CFO Antonietta Nguyen, 58, who plundered $9 million from company funds to splurge on purses and luxury vacations. Making up the deplorable foursome is Maxwell's 'bestie' Jennifer Bengston Cook, 58, an ex-bookkeeper who wrote checks worth $1.6 million to herself. 'They are highly secretive. They whisper to one another and cover their mouths so nobody can understand what they are saying,' a source told the Daily Mail. Ghislaine Maxwell has formed a close-knit friendship group with fraudsters at a Texas federal prison after being shunned by many fellow inmates, the Daily Mail has learned Maxwell was transferred to FPC Bryan after beginning her 20-year sentence at a far harsher Florida prison 'Max has picked these three women because she considers them to be highly intelligent and a cut above the usual inmates – just like herself. 'Between them, they are serving more than 34 years in prison.' Maxwell was convicted on multiple counts related to child sex trafficking in 2021 and began her 20-year sentence at FCI Tallahassee, a far harsher Florida prison. She was bullied by inmates, badgered about her personal hygiene and even thrown in solitary confinement for giving an unapproved media interview from behind bars. Her living standards improved dramatically, however, when she agreed last year to brief the DOJ about her ties to Epstein and was transferred days later to FPC Bryan, considered one of the country's cushiest lockups. Inmates usually bed down three to a room, but Maxwell's 'cubicle' houses just two. Bengston Cook of Greer, South Carolina, slept in the second bunk until she was released to a federal halfway house a few weeks ago. Jennifer Bengston Cook, described by prison sources as Maxwell's 'bestie,' was convicted in 2025 of stealing more than $1.6 million from her employer over a decade-long scheme Also in Maxwell's clique are former seafood company CFO Antonietta Nguyen (left) who was convicted of embezzling millions of dollars and disgraced Indiana plastic surgeon Bethany Cataldi who is serving more than eight years in prison after admitting to a multimillion-dollar healthcare fraud scheme. The cozy arrangement caused a stink because it's normally up to prison counsellors to decide who sleeps where inside the 37-acre compound that accommodates 635 women. 'Max had a different bunkie to begin with but as soon as that girl was released, Jennifer took her place,' our source revealed. 'If the rumors are to be believed, Max picked her because they are so close. Nobody else gets to choose who they live with. 'It's typical of the sort of special treatment she enjoys.' Bengston Cook previously worked as a part-time bookkeeper for a South Carolina company selling spotlights and electrical equipment to theaters and schools. She wrote checks to herself for 10 years before a colleague, filling in during her vacation, spotted close to two million dollars missing. In June last year Judge Jacquelyn Austin sentenced Bengston Cook to three years in prison and ordered her to pay $2,276,830 in restitution. That figure is dwarfed by the $19,138,245 that Cataldi, the owner of a plastic surgery clinic in Highland, Indiana, owes Medicare, private insurers and patients. Maxwell's living standards behind bars improved dramatically, however, when she agreed last year to brief the DOJ about her ties to Epstein At her current prison, Maxwell shares her living space with just one 'bunkie.' She is pictured in custody in a Brooklyn jail as she awaited trial in released DOJ files  Sources have long claimed Maxwell is enjoying 'special treatment' in the all-female federal lockup in Bryan, Texas as she serves 20 years for grooming young girls for ex-lover Jeffrey Epstein Feds say she billed for 1,800 sinuplasty surgeries that never happened – a scam branded 'outrageous' at her February sentencing for healthcare fraud. As part of her plea deal, Cataldi agreed to serve 97 months and forfeit real estate and luxury assets including three Mercedes cars and dozens of electric guitars. Nguyen exploited her position as CFO of a San Francisco seafood wholesaler to embezzle $9 million, according to a 2023 federal indictment. She used the money to travel the world in search of luxurious purses and scarves which she stashed in a secret room. A jury convicted Nguyen of 12 felony counts including wire fraud, money laundering and tax evasion, and she was jailed for three years. 'Max has grown especially fond of Antonietta,' our source explained. 'When Antonietta had eye surgery Max and Miss Cataldi took turns to check whether she was ok or if she needed anything. 'Now that Jennifer is out of prison it's only a matter of time until one of them moves into the cubicle with Max.' Before her conviction, Maxwell moved in elite circles that included presidents, royalty and celebrities Maxwell was convicted on multiple counts of child sex trafficking in 2021 for grooming young girls for Epstein Maxwell had scores of famous friends - including Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the disgraced former British prince – before her stunning fall from grace. Epstein, her former boss and lover, hanged himself in 2019 while behind bars awaiting trial for sex trafficking minors. The Supreme Court rejected Maxwell's appeal last October. Her attorney David Oscar Markus – who says his notorious client is a 'scapegoat' for Epstein's crimes – did not respond to a request for comment. The Federal Bureau of Prisons said it could not discuss individual inmates. Spokesman Donald Murphy said staff were prohibited from providing preferential treatment to any prisoners. 'Any deviation from this standard undermines public trust and the fair administration of justice,' he said. 'Violators may be subject to disciplinary actions, including removal from federal service and criminal prosecution.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.