Harvey Weinstein was caught smuggling Milk Duds in November, prompting reprimands from LA County wardens, according to records reviewed by Variety.
The Milk Duds were discovered during a search on November 10, after Weinstein had a face-to-face meeting with Sean Berkeley, one of his lawyers. Milk Duds were confiscated, and security guards warned they would have to search lawyers’ legal files and laptop bags for future visits.
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Weinstein told security that he brought Milk Duds with him when he was extradited from New York in July. But prison officials said he was searched on arrival at Los Angeles County Jail and nothing was found, leading them to conclude that Milk Duds had been handed over to him during a lawyer’s visit.
Weinstein apologized for the incident in a statement to Variety.
“It was an innocent misunderstanding,” Weinstein said. “It will not happen again. I have been a model prisoner, following the rules and regulations, and I sincerely regret it.”
Weinstein’s leading lawyers, Mark Verksman and Alan Jackson, also apologized.
“We were informed of this and we are very sorry that it happened,” they said. “It simply came to our notice then. Harvey was a model prisoner and intends to continue as such. “
The infamous producer has been detained at the Correctional Treatment Center, a medical unit at Twin Towers Prison in downtown Los Angeles, while awaiting trial on 11 charges of rape and sexual assault. In 2020, he was sentenced to 23 years in prison in New York. This sentence is being appealed and the appeal is expected to be decided within the next few months.
Weinstein is entitled to personal visits with his lawyers as he prepares for the trial. But prison officials warned that if additional smuggling was discovered, lawyers could be forced to use a special booth.
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Weinstein faces a number of health problems, including diabetes, as well as heart problems, sleep apnea and eye problems.
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