I'm beginning to wonder if Peruvian prison may not be as harsh as I assumed, at least for those with resources.
The marriage was 9 years ago, but since then he has apparently become involved with international cocaine trafficking also.
I have always wondered why he so aggressively fought extradition to the US. Possibly I just assumed Peruvian prisons were like those in other Latin American countries.
I've heard a few things I can't link to, but I think the prisoners are liable for nearly all their food, someone from outside brings it to them. In another Latino country I've see the very long lines of relatives and friends on the weekends, bringing bundles of food for their friends, loved ones. Also think most have conjugational visiting, to relieve that kind of pressure building up. IMO the US has less of that than do countries further south, though it may be state by state. Federal prisons, I don't know if they have the conjugal visits.
I wondered why he fought extradition too, but one of those articles just posted say the penalties for his alleged extortion and fraud could be a max of 50 years. That's a pretty big addition to his 28 or more down there. Of the 28 he has served 10 and is still in his thirties. So he has 18 more on murder charges and 18 more for drugs. Adding 50 in the USA well that takes care of his life.
I think the drug trafficking is much easier from Peruvian prisons than in the USA. Plus JVDS is a big guy, physically, probably towers over everyone in the whole prison, and gains power from that, also amongst the prisoners for being a "gringo", tri lingual, at least, etc.
IMO
Speaking of harsh, that prison is located way above the level of the top of Mt. Rainier in Washington State, must be quite a burden on the body of a person not used to lack of oxygen and nightly freezing all year, at least outside. I don't know much more, but I keep hearing horror stories of those worst of the prisons in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, etc.
ETA not sure of the conjugal visits that Daily Beast article I posted said that no one knew how his then future wife got preggers, that he was very isolated behind multiple locked doors.