Ghislaine Maxwell Denied Access to Puppy Training Program at Texas Prison

Download IPFS

Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted former associate of Jeffrey Epstein, has been barred from participating in a service dog training program at her new facility, the Federal Prison Camp (FPC) in Bryan, Texas, according to NBC News. Maxwell was transferred from the Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee, Florida, to FPC Bryan earlier this year. The Texas facility is a minimum-security prison camp that offers more freedom than the higher-security environment she left behind.

While FPC Bryan hosts service dog training programs for inmates, the nonprofit group that operates them, Canine Companions, confirmed Maxwell will not be allowed to participate. Paige Mazzoni, the organization’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), said inmates with convictions involving abuse toward minors or animals, or any sexual offenses, are barred from the program.

“We do not allow anyone whose crime involves abuse towards minors or animals — including any crime of a sexual nature,” Mazzoni told NBC News. “That’s a hard policy we have, so she will not be able to. Those are crimes against the vulnerable, and you’re putting them with a puppy who is vulnerable.”

Maxwell is serving a 20-year federal sentence for sex trafficking and related charges, convicted of helping Epstein recruit and abuse underage girls. Her transfer to FPC Bryan occurred about a week after meeting with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in Florida to discuss her connections to Epstein.

Former Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg told Fox News Digital that FPC Bryan offers “dorm-style housing” rather than traditional prison cells, giving inmates comparatively greater movement and fewer restrictions.

The move raised questions from some observers about whether Maxwell was receiving preferential treatment. Officials denied any special consideration, with a Trump administration spokesperson telling Fox News Digital, “Any false assertion this individual was given preferential treatment is absurd. Prisoners are routinely moved in some instances due to significant safety and danger concerns.”

Maxwell’s exclusion from the prison’s service dog program underscores a strict policy designed to protect vulnerable animals and limit privileges for those convicted of crimes against minors. While her transfer placed her in a less restrictive facility, her eligibility for certain rehabilitation or work programs remains limited by the nature of her offenses.