Jen Shahhas been sentenced to 78 months (6.5 years) for her role in orchestrating a fraud scheme.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake Citystar appeared in a New York court on Friday afterpleading guiltyto her role in the telemarketing conspiracy.
Shah’s husbandSharrieffand their sons, Sharrieff Jr. and Omar, were in the courtroom as the decision was handed down.
Earlier Friday morning, Judge Sidney Stein spoke to the packed courtroom. According to Inner City Press’s Matthew Russell Lee, Judge Stein told attendees: “Jen Shah’s role onThe Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, which I guess is why the courtroom is so full today, is just that, a role.People should not confuse the character she plays on an entertainment show to the person before me.”
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Before Shah was sentenced, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Sobelman called her crimes"brazen fraud.“Per Lee, Sobelman added, “Every cooperator told us,‘Jen Shah is the boss.‘They all knew who she was.”
Jen Shah sentencing.NBC News
Before that, Judge Stein had told Chaudhry that her client “wasa leader of this conspiracy,” according to Lee. Judge Stein continued, “So this cuts against you, not for you.”
Chaudhry later responded, “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 — buttoday is about justice for them. Measuring the pain.”
Stein countered, “Her activity in this crime took place years beforeThe Real Housewives of Salt Lake Citystarted. So you are saying her hunger for trinkets predates the show?”
Chris Haston/Bravo via Getty
Chaudhry said, in part: “Elders, her victims, are teaching her.She regrets the mistakes she has made.She is sorry. She had faith in our justice system. Jen will pay her debt to society.”
Chaudhry closed, “Ms. Shah willcelebrate her 50th birthday in a federal prison. … Then she will try to make whole those who lost money. She will once again make her elders proud.”
She said later, “Longstanding untreated mental issues caused me tocreate my own fractured reality.This is a crucible moment for me.With the proper medication I can now see what happened. I wish I could have stood outside myself. I am sorry.”
With no further words from Shah, Judge Stein declared, “My intention is to impose a sentence of 78 months of incarceration, and other conditions.”
Shah’s sentence will begin on Feb. 17.Though Judge Stein would not specify the facility on Friday, 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.
After the sentencing, Sharrieff walked up to Jen to give her a kiss and a hug. Showing no emotion, she then walked into the stands and hugged her mother and her sons. Soon after, the Shahs left the courthouse.
Shah, 49, and her assistant,Stuart Smith, were arrested in March 2021 for spearheading a phone scam to defraud people over the age of 55.Details later emergedabout how the scheme claimed to offer tutoring course to prepare the victims for a salaried sales position.
Even afterSmith entered a guilty pleain November 2021, Shah continued to proclaim her innocence — until she entered into a plea deal in July 2022 and admitted in court to her role in the scheme.
Heidi Gutman/Bravo
This plea deal suggested Shah would be sentenced between 11 and 14 years in prison, though the U.S. governmentadvocated for 10 years. However, Shahasked for a reduced sentenceof just three years in a December request to the court.
Shah’s maximum sentence for the crime was 30 years — though she previouslyagreed not to appealher case if her sentence was less than 14 years.
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Shahdid film some episodesofRHOSLCbetween her arrest and sentencing — though she did not film the show’s upcomingseason 3 reunion.
source: people.com
