The wealthy convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein sure has a sweet tooth.
While serving a 13-month sentence in 2008 and 2009 at a jail in Palm Beach County, Florida, Epstein frequently purchased a slew of sugary snacks through the jail commissary, according to Epstein's order receipts from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office obtained by INSIDER. The 12 receipts specifically document purchases made on random days in July, August, and September in 2008.
The first item at the top of one of the receipts was two quantities of hand lotion. But he also demonstrated a love of sugar. For example, frequent purchases included Chattanooga Chocolate Moon Pie (on one occasion, he opted for vanilla), Crystal Light mix in the lemonade, raspberry, and iced tea flavors, cocoa mix, and candies like Baby Ruths, Hershey's bars with almonds, peanut M&M's, Kit Kats, Almond Joys, Jolly Ranchers, PayDays, Milky Ways, Root Beer Barrels, and a Reese's Crispy Crunchy Bar.
And the list goes on: Other sweet snacks Epstein bought while incarcerated included chocolate cupcakes, chocolate cream cookies, fudge brownies, Oreos, Pop-Tarts, butterscotch drops, lemon drops, cinnamon graham crackers, bear-claw pastries, honey buns, apple-cider mix, and peanut-butter squeezers. Another common purchase — maybe to offset the high sugar intake — was sugar substitutes, with Epstein, in a July 29 receipt, buying a whopping 20 quantities of sugar substitute.
Or, maybe he used the sugar substitutes for his coffee, which was also a frequent buy (to be exact, Epstein purchased 112 quantities of single-serve coffee and the pricier Maxwell House coffee while behind bars. In a September 23 receipt, he bought 30 single-serve coffees and four Maxwell House coffees).
But, even with all the sweets, Epstein still had a savory side: He bought snacks such as potato chips, chicken pouches, mustard, cheddar-cheese squeezes, teriyaki meat sticks, Cheetos, saltine crackers, Spam, honey and ham cheese sticks, hickory-smoked beef, and Lil' Chub sausages.
When not buying food, Epstein frequently purchased clothes, including 2x-large and 3x-large sweatshirts; large, x-large, and 2x-large t-shirts; x-large and xx-large gym shorts; large and x-large men's briefs; ankle socks; shower shoes; canvas shoes; and even a pair of leather shoes.
And, let's not forget Epstein's toiletries, like petroleum jelly, Herbal Essences shampoo, razors, antibiotic cream, aspirin, ibuprofen, conditioner, skin cream, cherry-flavored ChapStick, hydrocortisone cream, decongestants, antacid, and multivitamins, among other items.
Of the 12 order receipts reviewed by INSIDER, Epstein spent a total of $1,222.35 for commissary items. The most expensive receipt was $132.27 on August 12 (the day he purchased the leather shoes), and the least expensive receipt, on July 22, came out to a total of $73.32. His most expensive purchase that day were two pairs of gym shorts, which cost $13.88 each.
Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008 to state charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution under a sweetheart deal, brokered by Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta during his tenure as a US attorney in Florida, that resulted in the financier spending just 13 months in jail (most of it in a work release program where he was allowed to spend six days a week at his home office) and registering as a sex offender.
Acosta resigned on Friday after heavy criticism of the deal, which many say ended a federal investigation of Epstein that could have resulted in a much tougher prison sentence.
Earlier this month, federal sex trafficking charges were brought against the financier in New York, with prosecutors alleging in the indictment that he molested girls as young as 14 in a sex-trafficking operation in the early 2000s. He has pleaded not guilty.
- Read more:
- Amid Acosta's resignation, prosecutors are questioning the 'sweetheart deal' he gave to Jeffrey Epstein
- Inside Jeffrey Epstein's press machine: How the financier tried to rehab his image post-conviction with donations and pay-for-play journalism
- Employees on Jeffrey Epstein's private island compound say they had to stay out of sight of the financier and were never allowed in his office
If you are a survivor of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-4673) or visit its website to receive confidential support.
