'Real Housewives' Star Headed To Prison for Wire Fraud
The reality star played an 'integral' role in a telemarketing scheme targeting elderly victims.
Jen Shah, of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City fame, is headed to the big house.
The reality star, 49, has been sentenced to a 78-month prison term for her role in a telemarketing scheme that targeted scamming elderly and vulnerable victims out of their life savings, per CNN.
Shah pled guilty to the charges in July of 2022, per Deadline, as part of a plea deal after originally pleading not guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud in April of 2021.
“Jennifer Shah was a key participant in a nationwide scheme that targeted elderly, vulnerable victims,” Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement at the time. “These victims were sold false promises of financial security but instead Shah and her co-conspirators defrauded them out of their savings and left them with nothing to show for it. This Office is committed to rooting out these schemes whatever form they take.”
At the time, Shah was facing up to 14 years in prison and restitution of up to $9.5 million. Now, in addition to her 6.5-year sentence, she owes $6.64 million in restitution and must pay an additional $6.5 million fine, surrender 30 luxury items and 78 counterfeit luxury items, and face five years of supervised release at the end of her sentence, as reported by NBC News.
Judge Stein called Shah an “integral” member of the long running scheme.
Per CNN, Shah was emotional in the courtroom, stating, “First and foremost I am deeply sorry for what I have done. I take full responsibility for my actions and I’m doing all I can to fix the harm I have caused.”
“I’m so sorry for the agony and significant financial loss each of you have endured," she added.
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According to ABC News correspondent Aaron Katersky, who was live-tweeting updates from the courtroom, the judge expressed concern over the presence of Shah's manager during the sentencing. "The judge said he was 'a little concerned' Shah’s manager is in the courtroom," Katersky reported. "He warned her against trying to profit from her crime and instead focus on restitution to victims."
Shah assured the judge that profits from the merchandise she had made for the case—shirts that say "Free Jen Shah"—would be reserved for the victims.
Shah must surrender herself to prison on Feb. 17, 2023.
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