Jen Shah’s fraud case has taken a new turn.
Shah first rose to fame forher role onThe Real Housewives of Salt Lake Cityin 2020 but has recently made headlines for her role in a long-running telemarketing scheme.
During production for season 2 of the reality show in 2021, Shah and one of her assistants, Stuart Smith, were arrested in Utah.
They were later charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Since their initial arrest, the fraud case has continued to evolve; in July 2022, Shah changed her plea to “guilty” while appearing in a New York court.
Here’s everything to know about Shah’s fraud case, including her recent sentencing.
When was Jen Shah arrested?
Shah wasarrested in March 2021alongside her assistant, Stuart Smith, for allegedly targeting individuals in a nationwide scheme.
“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,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss previously said in apress release.
Jen Shah.Chad Kirkland/Bravo/ Getty
What was Jen Shah charged for?
Shah and Smith were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
What was Jen Shah’s plea?
Shah and Smith initially pleaded not guilty in April 2021. However, her assistant laterchanged his plea to guiltythat November.
Shah maintained her innocence until her recent court hearing in July 2022. Her legal team evenattempted to get the charges dismissedin August 2021, but a judge denied the request.
On July 11,Shah switched her original pleaof not guilty to guilty.
“Ms. Shah is a good woman who crossed a line,” Priya Chaudhry, an attorney for the reality star, told PEOPLE. “She accepts full responsibility for her actions and deeply apologizes to all who have been harmed. Ms. Shah is also sorry for disappointing her husband, children, family, friends, and supporters. Jen pled guilty because she wants to pay her debt to society and put this ordeal behind her and her family.”
Andrew Peterson/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
Was Jen Shah’s fraud case covered onThe Real Housewives of Salt Lake City?
Shah’s fraud case was a major storyline inRHOSLC’s second season and continued to be another big plot point in season 3.
Shortly after Shah changed her plea to guilty on July 11, PEOPLE confirmed that the reality star willcontinue to take part in the upcoming third seasonofThe Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.
This case is “a very big part of Jen’s story,” the source continued. “Producers don’t want us to stop following it now … They’ll keep filming with her as long as they can, just like they did withTeresa [Giudice].” (TheReal Housewives of New Jerseystar and her then-husband Joe wereconvictedofmail, wire and bankruptcy fraudin Oct. 2014 and each served a prison sentence.)
The case was also covered in the Hulu documentary, titledThe Housewife & the Shah Shocker.
What was Jen Shah’s sentence?
Shah’s sentence will begin on Feb. 17.Though Judge Stein would not specify the facility during the sentencing, Shah will serve out her sentence somewhere in the"Texas region."
After she leaves prison, Judge Stein also ordered Shah to servefive years of supervised release"to make sure youdon’t end up committing another crime," said Stein.
Where is Jen Shah now?
On Feb. 17, PEOPLE confirmed thatShah had entered FPC Bryan Prisonin Bryan, Texas. This is the same minimum-security facility former Theranos CEOElizabeth Holmesisexpected to complete her 11-year stint. However, Shah will serve a 78-month sentence.
Ahead of Shah entering prison, her attorney Priya Chaudhry issued a statement to PEOPLE on Thursday, sharing, “Jen Shah’s resolve to make her victims whole and to turn her life around is unyielding.”
The statement continued: “Her path ahead will be filled with challenges, but with the unwavering love and support of her family and friends, Jen is prepared to face these challenges head-on and emerge from this experience a better person who makes a positive impact on others.”
source: people.com
