Former Mahoning County judge imprisoned at 'Camp Cupcake'

A former Mahoning County Court judge convicted of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from a dead client has started serving a 30-month term at a federal prison facility in West Virginia that has been called "Camp Cupcake."

So-named by the media when lifestyle guru Martha Stewart was sent there for stock trading violations, Federal Prison Camp Alderson became the new home Friday for former Sebring Court Judge Diane Vettori-Caraballo.

A federal judge sentenced Vettori-Caraballo after she was convicted of taking $328,000 in cash that was being stored in the home of one of her private law practice clients Dolores Falgiani, who died in 2016.

Vettori-Caraballo, now known as inmate number 65361-060, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud, one count of structuring cash deposits and one count of making false statements to law enforcement.

You won't find barbed wire fences at FPC Alderson, where the prison commissary sells hundreds of items including makeup, clothing, Pop-Tarts, Velveeta, as well as other food items, snacks, laundry needs, makeup, and other health and beauty goods.

The FPC handbook includes information to help inmates keep fit:

"Activities include but are not limited to arts and crafts classes, aerobics, step aerobics, country line aerobics, pilates, sweating to the oldies, fusion, low impact spinning, volleyball (indoor/outdoor), pool, basketball, ping pong, jogging, brisk walking, softball, roller skating, table games, bingo, bocci ball, game shows, progressive relaxation and talent shows. Tournaments are held periodically with consumable prizes awarded to winners. "

In addition to Martha Stewart, other infamous women have called FPC Alderson home including Charles Manson follower Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme and Sarah Jane Moore, both of whom served time for separate attempts on the life of President Gerald Ford.

Vettori-Caraballo has also been ordered to make $328,000 restitution to Animal Charity of Ohio and Angels for Animals who were named as beneficiaries by Falgiani's estate.

Vettori-Caraballo was elected Sebring Court Judge in Mahoning County Court #3 in 2002, and she was reelected in 2006 and 2012. She was suspended from the bench in October. 

The husband of the former judge, Ismael Caraballo who pleaded guilty to a tax count earlier this year has been placed on probation for three years.