Martha Stewart’s prison bestie lifts the lid on their close friendship behind bars – and how the domestic diva ‘betrayed’ her
As I delve into this heart-wrenching tale of friendship and betrayal, I find myself deeply moved by the experiences of Lisa Guarino and Martha Stewart. From the accounts presented, it is clear that Lisa played an instrumental role in saving Martha’s life while they were both incarcerated. The bond they forged during their shared struggle seems to have been shattered by the cold, hard realities of Martha’s return to wealth and fame.
The first time Lisa Guarino met Martha Stewart was embarrassing to say the least.
The 62-year-old former convict shared with DailyMail.com that he drew aside a drape, revealing a bare, white posterior directly before me.
As she turned, Guarino raised his gaze to discover that the person he was addressing was no other than the renowned home-management expert.
83-year-old Stewart commenced her five-month term at FPC Alderson, a nicknamed ‘Camp Cupcake’ minimum-security women’s federal prison in West Virginia, on October 8, 2004.
As I, an over-the-moon fan, I couldn’t help but be drawn towards the gathering of inquisitive souls eagerly seeking a peek at their beloved celebrity. Right there, in the very heart of the laundry facility, she was transforming into her prison uniform – quite the spectacle!
Eventually, Guarino found herself drawn towards the building from an uncommon entrance. It was there that she had an encounter she didn’t anticipate.
She offered to take Martha out the rear exit, to which she agreed.
According to Guarino, Martha and I immediately became friends from that point forward, and Stewart was more like a beloved companion to me. We shared tears, laughter, and meals together during our stay at the same facility for several months.
20 years following their time spent in prison sharing cell walls and meals, Guarino – once infamous as ‘Boston’s cocaine queenpin’ – has disclosed that Stewart, a former friend, has since distanced herself from their relationship, even reneging on a supposed financial commitment. She shared this revelation in an exclusive conversation with DailyMail.com.
Guarino, affectionately known as ‘Little Italy’ due to her petite stature, found herself incarcerated for holding over five pounds of cocaine with the intention to sell it.
In the meantime, Stewart had recently been declared guilty on four charges linked to a stock trading fraud case. The court found her culpable in conspiracy, obstructing justice, and providing false statements to federal investigators, specifically on two instances.
Guarino claims that she mentored Stewart, assisting her in getting accustomed to living in prison, and occasionally cooking for her with hidden kitchen items.
She recalled cooking ‘dirty pasta’ in the microwave – a mix of noodles, herbs, and canned fish – which she claims quickly became one of Stewart’s favorites.
This 159-acre federal correctional facility resembles a university campus more than a traditional prison. It lacks the typical barbed wire enclosures, instead offering a less restrictive environment. Here, inmates enjoy privileges like using televisions, and they engage in various recreational activities such as ceramics workshops and gardening.
Stewart was given accommodation in one of the three large houses located on the property. Each house contains approximately 100 rooms designed for two people with bunk beds.
This comparatively comfortable facility was designated for beginners and prisoners serving shorter terms. On the other hand, Guarino was placed in the dormitories, which were colloquially referred to as the ‘slum area’ or simply ‘the ghetto’.
According to Guarino, the mogul lacked common sense about surviving in prison and it took him some time to understand the essential survival strategies inside.
At the start of her sentence she asked Guarino for pencils and writing paper among other things.
Guarino clarified that Martha wasn’t aware that these specific items need to be purchased via the commissary, and there are limited days during the week when prisoners can place orders for these items, or acquire them from fellow inmates.
In prison, if you borrow a pen or paper to write from someone, they expect you to return not just the original item but also something extra, like an additional pen or another sheet of paper, she explained.
Martha was completely baffled by it, and as I attempted to clarify it for her, she found it difficult to wrap her mind around the idea.
As per Guarino, it was clear that Stewart was accustomed to giving orders and having others comply promptly – a habit that could potentially lead to complications for her while in prison.
As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but notice the intriguing dynamics within this captivating setting. There were some inmates who couldn’t hide their admiration towards her, but there was another group whose feelings seemed less enthusiastic. Their dislike, it appeared, stemmed from various factors such as her economic position and demeanor.
Martha and Guarino often crossed paths, and only a few weeks into their interactions, Guarino moved to the “mansion” following his application for drug treatment at another penitentiary. This relocation aimed at reducing Martha’s sentence duration.
She wasn’t housed in the same ‘mansion’ as Martha, but was close enough.
Guarino stated, “I prepared meals for Martha almost every evening.” The mansions each had a single microwave, and you had to schedule a specific time to utilize it.
In this situation, we had no other choice but to prepare meals. I demonstrated to Martha how to utilize goods bought at the store or even sneakily obtained from the kitchen to create edible prison food using a microwave.
Apart from the soiled pasta, Guarino also concocted a homemade lemon or peach pie in prison style. He used crushed cookies obtained from the commissary for the crust, and mixed powdered Kool-Aid with any available canned fruit as a substitute for traditional ingredients.
‘You let it sit and a few hours later you had your prison pie. She really liked the lemon pie.
‘Martha was amazed with what you can do with the microwave.’
Guarino mentions that the duo swiftly developed a strong connection, exchanging tales and confiding in each other regarding their personal experiences.
Stewart also shared some insights into her challenging bond with her daughter Alexis, confessing to Guarino that she often prioritized her career over her family obligations.
‘I told Martha at the end of the day, family is all you got,’ Guarino said.
She told Stewart that she went to prison because she tried to earn $30,000 by selling cocaine to survive and support her family, whereas Martha, the first self-made female billionaire in America, ended up in prison for trying to save a small amount on a stock deal, which was insignificant compared to her vast wealth.
I said to Martha, “You jeopardized your liberty over an insignificant sum of money that didn’t bring any noticeable change to your life,” which was quite foolish.
‘I compared it to me doing a cocaine deal for $3. It wasn’t worth it.’
According to Guarino, the domestic icon later confirmed their strong connection in a heartfelt talk that made her feel they were destined to be friends for life.
She told Lisa, “I didn’t truly understand the concept of friendship before coming here. Here with you, I found my dearest friend, and I am deeply grateful for that.
They’d often be found spending numerous hours in each other’s company, engaging in daily workouts that included hundreds of abdominal crunches and leg raises.
To add some variety, Guarino proposes they both count aloud – Guarino in Italian, and Martha in French.
She recalled one incident when Stewart got herself into trouble when they went into an upstairs area of the unit and found the curtains drawn – a sign not to enter or disturb.
Guarino stated that he suggested to Martha that we might need to depart, but Martha stubbornly maintained that it was her territory and proceeded to open it up.
Upon opening, it became clear that numerous females were found in various states of undress and engaging in intimate poses. These particular women were recognized within the prison system as ‘bull daggers’, a term for tough or masculine lesbian inmates.
One formidable bull terrier named ‘Swish’ approached Martha and said to her: “You’ve met your match, young lady.
The ominous danger forced Martha to hide behind Guarino, prompting him to intervene and calm things down.
In a moment of irritation, Swish harbored the desire to harm Martha because she had opened the curtains at an inconvenient time. Instantly, I brought up the fact that Swish still owed me a favor, hinting that I was planning to cash it in.
Swish then inquired, “Are you considering using this favor for this individual?” as he subsequently addressed Stewart, “Little Italy is owed a significant debt by you.
To make peace Guarino offered Stewart to give them all yoga lessons, she claims.
If not for my presence that night, Martha might have sustained a severe injury or even faced a more dire outcome. She was petrified beyond belief, but upon reflection, I believe the event may not have left a lasting impression on her consciousness.
Many of the inmates didn’t like her just because she was Martha Stewart, according to Guarino.
She may not have been particularly knowledgeable about prison life, but Stewart did possess a certain level of street wisdom, according to her own statements.
As her loyal confidant, I was among those tasked with clandestinely exiting prohibited items from the prison kitchen on her behalf. Interestingly, she herself never possessed any contraband – no extra food or forbidden items that weren’t permitted to be kept in our custody.
It came to light that Martha had been written up following her attempt to sneak out two bags of sugar from the kitchen, and she received a scolding for plucking crabapples from the prison’s orchard.
In a nutshell, Martha was clarifying that since every blade of grass and leaf on trees belongs to the government, the crabapples she used to make her jam were technically illegal or unauthorized products, as she put it.
Guarino spent almost all of Stewart’s five-month imprisonment at the same location, but around three weeks prior to Stewart’s release, he was moved to a rehab facility in Danbury, Connecticut, for a drug treatment program.
Martha arranged a farewell gathering for me prior to my transfer to Danbury. In summary, the event was enjoyable, and I believe we formed a strong friendship. I acted as her mentor, providing guidance and support, she shared.
After gaining her freedom in 2006, Guarino’s life hasn’t been as straightforward as Stewart’s. She has encountered numerous health issues throughout the years, and in 2015, she was diagnosed with both lymphoma and leukemia. At present, she is not receiving treatment for these conditions.
She resides primarily on social security benefits and admits that she must compensate for the shortfall every month by seeking help, taking loans, or finding ways to acquire what she needs.
Hey there! As a lifestyle enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that I, Stewart, have just marked the exciting launch of my latest Netflix production, titled ‘Martha’. This compelling film offers an intimate look into various aspects of my life, including my time spent in prison – a period I now reflect upon with renewed perspective.
While serving time in prison, Guarino asserts that Stewart expressed feelings of gratitude towards him for his assistance and guidance.
In our recent discussions, I mentioned to my loved ones during a jail visit that I’d be gifting them a million dollars upon my release. However, as I’ve shared with you, this commitment, according to Guarino, remains unfulfilled.
She informs us that her taking care of her now makes it unnecessary for our family to continue adding funds to her books, as she explains.
But after transferring to another facility, Guarino discovered her account empty.
As a lifestyle guide, let me share a personal anecdote that highlights the importance of trust and reliability. When I discovered Martha had broken her promise, I felt as if a punch had been landed squarely in my gut. She had assured my family they no longer needed to support me financially because she would be taking care of me instead. However, when our encounter unfolded, all I received was a donut – symbolizing absolutely nothing.
Subsequently, my phone privileges were taken away for a period of three months, preventing me from reaching out to my family for financial assistance. This ordeal was miserable, and I endured some of the hardship because Martha failed to honor her promise.
Living modestly in a small, monthly rented apartment for $1,900, situated just beyond Boston, Guarino – the petite chain-smoker – is now largely confined due to a health issue, rendering her unable to work. She manages to get by with a meager income of $600 from social security benefits each month.
Eagerly anticipating a reunion and hoping that her old cellmate would fulfill her pledge after twenty years, Guarino went to an event on November 11 at the Chevalier Theatre in Medford, Massachusetts, which was where Stewart was publicizing her 100th cookbook.
At DailyMail.com, we caught a glimpse of Stewart’s arrival, where she warmly greeted fans with waves. Meanwhile, Guarino tried to catch her eye, shouting her name and establishing visual contact.
At some point, she exclaimed, “Martha, that’s Lisa!”, but Stewart, who was quite close by and could have heard, seemed to disregard her shouts and swiftly turned away, eventually disappearing into the theater.
Following her appearance, Stewart left through a side exit, bypassing the waiting crowd.
According to Guarino’s statement to DailyMail.com, he stated, “After I rescued Martha from prison, she intentionally avoided me. She escaped over the fence so as not to see or speak with me, and fled instead.
‘I’m pissed off, I’m offended.’
Reflecting on her experience, Guarino says she feels more pity than resentment for Stewart.
It seemed genuine when Martha claimed we were friends while she was in prison, but it appears that once she returned to her usual environment, she reverted to her self-centered habits again.
‘She has all the money in the world but part of me feels sorry for her.
‘At least I have my family.’
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2024-11-14 23:12