Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City (RHOSLC) star Jen Shah initially repeatedly insisted on her innocence. And multiple episodes of the reality TV show displayed Jen in tears over those who wouldn’t believe her. But then, in July 2022, the Real Housewives star made a plea deal and confessed to her part of a fraud scheme.
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Find out about the sentence that Shah just received in court. And learn what she said. Get all the details below.
Jen Shah Sentenced To 78 Months Behind Bars For Fraud
After months of claiming her innocence, Jen Shah followed up her summer plea deal by appearing in court for her sentencing. And the packed New York courtroom listened closely as Shah received 6.5 years (78 months) behind bars. The prison sentence results from Jen’s part in a fraud scheme that exploited telemarketing, according to People magazine.
However, Shah did receive support from her husband Sharrieff. And in addition to his presence in the courtroom, the Real Housewives star’s sons Sharrieff Jr. and Omar heard their mother receive her prison sentence. But they also listened as Judge Sidney Stein reflected on the reality TV star’s role.
“Jen Shah’s role on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, which I guess is why the courtroom is so full today, is just that, a role,” pointed out the judge. And he urged, “People should not confuse the character she plays on an entertainment show to the person before me.” However, Shah avoided drama when she received her opportunity to speak. And she stated, “I am sorry. My actions have hurt innocent people. I want to apologize by saying, I am doing all I can to earn the funds to pay restitution.”
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Attorney Calls Jen Shah’s Crimes ‘Brazen Fraud’
But the drama came from Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Sobelman. And he slammed Jen’s crimes, calling them “brazen fraud.” However, Sobelman also revealed that “every cooperator told us, ‘Jen Shah is the boss.’ They all knew who she was.”
And Shah’s attorney Priya Chaudhry sought to defend her client. For instance, Chaudhry claimed, “Jen has spent month reading the names of those she has hurt. She has prayed for their forgiveness. But she cannot forgive herself. Jen understands she cannot undo the pain or repay them today,” added the attorney. “But today is about justice for them. Measuring the pain.”
However, the attorney also claimed that Shah had thought that her TV role would “hide her pain. She spent years trying to hide her feeling, to fake it until she make it,” added Jen’s lawyer. And she insisted that Shah’s actual fraud “was on herself.”
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Jen Shah Blames Lack Of ‘Proper Medication’ For Crimes
But the Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City star then declared that she needed medication to understand her crimes. And she shared, “With the proper medication I can now see what happened. I wish I could have stood outside myself.” But Shah also spoke directly to her son and her father.
“To my baby Omar, Mommy is so sorry you were woken up at gunpoint,” said Jen to her youngest son. And she added, “My late father, I want to tell him I am sorry. I am humbled by your love for me.” However, Jen then learned that she will begin her sentence on February 17 in a Texas prison. And Judge Stein added that she must serve five years of supervised release to ensure she doesn’t “end up committing another crime.”
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