Shah and Stuart Smith, one of her assistants, were initially detained in 2021 for their participation in a persistent telemarketing scheme.
The fraud case against Jen Shah has taken a new turn.
Shah became famous for her role on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City in 2020, but she has recently made headlines for her involvement in a telemarketing scheme that has been going on for a long time.
Shah and Stuart Smith, one of her assistants, were arrested in Utah in 2021 while the reality show was preparing for its second season.
They were later charged with money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing.
The fraud case has continued to develop ever since their initial arrest; Shah changed her plea to “guilty” in a New York courtroom in July 2022.
Everything you need to know about Shah’s fraud case, including her most recent sentence, can be found here.
When did Jen Shah get detained?
Shah and her assistant Stuart Smith were taken into custody in March 2021 on suspicion of targeting individuals as part of a larger scheme.
In a previous press release, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss stated, “Jennifer Shah, who portrays herself as a wealthy and successful businessperson on reality television, and Stuart Smith, who is portrayed as Shah’s ‘first assistant,’ allegedly generated and sold ‘lead lists’ of innocent individuals for other members of their scheme to repeatedly scam.”
“The so-called business opportunities that Shah, Smith, and their co-conspirators offered to the victims were merely fraudulent schemes motivated by greed to steal the victims’ money, contrary to what was alleged. For their alleged crimes, these defendants now face prison time.”
What was the charge against Jen Shah?
In connection with telemarketing, Shah and Smith were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
How did Jen Shah plead?
In April 2021, Shah and Smith entered initial pleas of not guilty. However, in November of that year, her assistant changed his plea to guilty.
Up until her most recent court hearing in July 2022, Shah maintained her innocence. In August 2021, her legal team even tried to get the charges dropped, but a judge said no.
Shah changed her initial plea from not guilty to guilty on July 11.
An attorney for the reality star, Priya Chaudhry, told PEOPLE, “Ms. Shah is a good woman who crossed a line.” She sincerely apologizes to everyone who has been harmed and accepts full responsibility for her actions.
Ms. Shah also regrets having disappointed her family, children, husband, and supporters. Jen signed the guilty plea because she wants to settle her debt to society and move on with her life and her family.
The fraud case involving Jen Shah was it discussed on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City?
In the second season of RHOSLC, Shah’s fraud case was a major plot point, and it remained so in season 3.
PEOPLE has confirmed that Shah will continue to participate in the upcoming third season of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City shortly after changing her plea to guilty on July 11.
A source told PEOPLE exclusively, “She’s had Meredith [Marks] and Heather [Gay] by her side, who have been very supportive of their friend during a difficult time.” Evidently, Jen’s legal issues have not been simple, and this decision to plead guilty is no exception.”
The source went on to say that this case is “a very big part of Jen’s story.” “They’ll keep filming with her as long as they can, just like they did with Teresa [Giudice], producers don’t want us to stop following it now.” In October of 2014, the star of Real Housewives of New Jersey and her then-husband Joe was found guilty of mail, wire, and bankruptcy fraud, and they both served time in prison.)
The Housewife & the Shah Shocker, a documentary on Hulu, also covered the case.
Which sentence did Jen Shah receive?
Shah received a sentence of 78 months (6.5 years) in prison on January 6, 2023, for her part in a fraud scheme. Shah issued a statement of apology in the New York courtroom. I apologize. Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press quotes her as saying, “My actions have hurt innocent people.” I want to say that I’m sorry and that I’m doing everything I can to get the money to pay for restitution.
Shah also addressed her father and younger son: My baby Omar, I’m so sorry that you were forced to get up at gunpoint. I want to apologize to my late father. Your love for me humbles me.”
On February 17, Shah’s sentence will begin. Shah will serve her sentence in a facility in the “Texas region,” although Judge Stein would not specify the location during the sentencing.
According to Stein, Shah will also have to serve five years of supervised release following her release from prison “to make sure you don’t end up committing another crime.”
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