Phaedra’s Shame! Ex Apollo Nida Punished For Smuggling Cell Phone Into Prison

Apollo Nida is in hot water behind bars.

Phaedra Parks' estranged husband, 37, was caught with a cell phone in his New Jersey prison, RadarOnline.com can exclusively reveal.

According to a prison insider, officials discovered in February that the former Real Housewives of Atlanta star had been using the forbidden phone to call friends and family from the Fort Dix Correctional Institute, where he was transferred late last fall to finish an eight-year sentence on fraud and theft charges.

Nida received more than just a slap on the wrist for his wrongdoing.

"The prison staff took Apollo's violation very seriously," the Fort Dix source tells RadarOnline.com. "He was taken out of camp with the general population and placed in maximum security."

Now, the father of two is locked up behind barbed wire for 18 months. Among the stricter rules, loved ones, including sons Ayden 5, and Dylan 2, must receive a full body scan before visits.

Though Parks, 44, took the young boys to see their father earlier this year, the reality TV attorney is not suspected of smuggling in the cell phone.

"Phaedra has not been questioned," the prison source assured fans.

In addition to infuriating the prison staff, Nida has alienated fellow inmates with his big ego, the insider reveals.

"Apollo is not well-liked among the other prisoners because he thinks he's still a famous reality star," the source explains. "He wanted special treatment, and had a hard time adjusting to prison life."

Perhaps new fellow Bravolebrity inmate Joe Giudice, 43, will act as a shoulder to cry on.

As RadarOnline.com previously reported, the former personal trainer finally checked into prison one day late in September 2014 following a blowout fight with ex Parks.

She publicly called off the marriage less than a month later.