What Got the ‘OITNB’ Characters Imprisoned in the First Place? A Refresher
Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling)
Pipes was busted for being an accessory to Alex’s drug trafficking and trying to smuggle cash through customs at a European airport.
Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren (Uzo Aduba)
After trying to befriend a young boy who then fell from her fire escape, Suzanne was convicted of kidnapping and involuntary manslaughter of a minor.
Alex Vause (Laura Prepon)
Alex worked as a smuggler and a dealer for a drug cartel before she was caught. She got probation as part of a plea deal but was then busted with a gun after Piper ratted her out.
Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson (Danielle Brooks)
Taystee was presumably convicted for trafficking drugs for late Litchfield inmate Vee (Lorraine Toussaint). She was later convicted, falsely, for the murder of Piscatella (Brad William Henke).
Galina “Red” Reznikov (Kate Mulgrew)
Amid her involvement with the Russian mafia, Red likely took the fall for the bodies of mafia victims that police found in her freezer.
Nicky Nichols (Natasha Lyonne)
Nicky was caught for breaking and entering and possession of heroin after trying to steal antique books from her neighbor for drug money.
Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett (Taryn Manning)
Pennsatucky shot and killed an orderly at an abortion clinic after he belittled her for her multiple abortions. She’s also serving time for escaping Litchfield in Season 6.
Gloria Mendoza (Selenis Leyva)
Mendoza committed food stamp fraud at the corner store she formerly owned, trying to save up money so she could escape an abusive boyfriend.
Cindy “Black Cindy” Hayes (Adrienne C. Moore)
Black Cindy’s crime has never been spelled out, but she may have been busted for stealing an iPad to give to her daughter.
Dayanara “Daya” Diaz (Dascha Polanco)
Like her mother, former inmate Aleida (Elizabeth Rodriguez), Daya went to jail on drug-related charges after being implicated in Aleida’s boyfriend Cesar’s drug operation.
Lorna Morello (Yael Stone)
Morello committed mail fraud, but her more grievous offense was stalking a man and even planting an explosive device under his and his girlfriend’s car.
Marisol “Flaca” Gonzales (Jackie Cruz)
Flaca went to Litchfield for fraud and endangerment after she sold fake LSD pills to her high school classmates, one of who jumped off the roof of the school while “high.”
Maria Ruiz (Jessica Pimentel)
Ruiz’s crimes haven’t been fully explained, but she did date a man she met while he was running from the cops and dumping drugs along the way.
Blanca Flores (Laura Gómez)
Flores presumably served time for elder abuse after getting revenge on the older woman for whom she cared. Upon her release from Litchfield, Flores was picked up by ICE.
Frieda Berlin (Dale Soules)
Frieda’s multiple offenses include the murders of four people in one year, the murder of a cop, and the dismemberment of her husband’s penis with a dull blade.
The release of Orange Is the New Black’s seventh and final season is just around the corner, but “You’ve Got Time” to get back up to speed on Litchfield lore.
Here, for example, we’re recapping the crimes that got some of the main characters locked away in the first (or second or third) place.
Refresh your memory in the gallery above!
Orange Is the New Black, Season 7 Premiere, Friday, July 26, Netflix
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