Joe’s PRISON HELL

Meltdowns, debts and threats — inside inmate Joe Giudice’s sad new life

The rules didn’t apply to him. At least that’s what Joe Giudice seemed to think when he got involved in a card game with some of his fellow inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution Fort Dix in New Jersey, where he’s just three months into a 41-month sentence for federal fraud crimes. “He lost, and he didn’t want to pay up,” an insider exclusively tells In Touch of the drama, which went down in early June. “They play for commissary money, and with all the money [ his wife] Teresa puts into his account, you would think Joe wouldn’t be so cheap. But the guys he was playing with scared him good and he ended up pay

ing triple to keep them off his back! He was nervous about what would happen if he didn’t.”

He should still be nervous. Just because Joe paid his gambling debt doesn’t mean his problems in prison have gone away. The Real Housewives of New Jersey star is a walking target. “Joe has a bad attitude and an inflated ego and doesn’t get along with anyone in prison,” says the insider, adding that life behind bars has been a living hell for the reality star. “He’s just not a likable guy. He’s been watching his back more and more, especially since the card game.”

Joe is doing himself in. Unlike Teresa, 44, who tried to make friends and make the best of her nearly 12 months behind bars, Joe, 44, has been unable — or unwilling — to adjust. “He doesn’t listen to advice on how to handle things, and he’s not savvy when it comes to playing nice with other inmates who have a lot of issues themselves,” says the insider. “Even some of the guards don’t treat him well because they don’t appreciate his attitude. He thinks he’s a tough guy, when he’s really just a worthless jerk.”

He still hasn’t accepted his punishment. “Joe had a total and complete meltdown in prison [in mid-june],” says the insider. “He’d convinced himself that if he admitted to being an alcoholic and entered into a program for it,

“There are some guys in there who just don’t like him,” says an insider. After a card game didn’t go his way, “Joe was scared. He didn’t know what would happen to him dealing with these guys.” he would be eligible for early release and only serve 18 months.” He was wrong. “His lawyers just told Joe that the earliest he’s getting out is 36 months. He freaked out, cursing his lawyers and Teresa — who didn’t have anything to do with it!”

Teresa had been publicly playing the good wife standing by Joe’s side, but lately she’s been pulling away. She didn’t visit him on Father’s Day, nor did she mention him on social media. (She only tweeted to tell her followers: “Happy Father’s Day and enjoy your day with your family.”) “I can’t imagine it’ll last, especially if Joe gets deported to [ his native] Italy after his sentence, and right now his chances of deportation are 50-50,” explains the insider. “How he behaves behind bars plays into that decision, and he hasn’t been the best inmate. He was even wasted when he surrendered himself. Everything gets documented.”

Joe needs to change his ways, or he’ll suffer the consequences. “If he doesn’t figure it out soon, he’s going to have real problems during his sentence,” adds the insider. “He thinks he’s really something, but no one thinks he is special in there. He’d better watch his back.” ◼