Jen Shah was sentenced Friday to 78 months in prison for wire fraud in a telemarketing scheme targeting the elderly.
Shah appeared in New York federal court on Friday for sentencing before U.S. District Court Judge Sidney Stein.
She entered the courtroom around 9:50 a.m. and was joined by some family and friends in the gallery, including her husband, University of Utah assistant football coach Sharrieff Shah, and her two sons, Sharrieff Shah Jr. and briefly sat next to Umar Shah.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star wore an all-camel outfit, wearing a pantsuit, a leopard-print camel-neck blouse, and a leopard-print poncho coat.
Judge Stein took the bench around 10:30 a.m. to begin the sentencing hearing as Shah sat between two attorneys at the defense table.
The courtroom was packed with Real Housewives fans who eagerly awaited the outcome of Shah’s sentencing.
The reality star appeared to have a serious demeanor and looked tense ahead of the sentencing. She looked at her husband who was sitting in the gallery shortly before the sentencing.
The Justice Department initially asked for ten years behind bars for the “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star. Her legal team, who had asked for a three-year sentence, had previously called Shah “a wonderful mother and a good woman who has been punished a lot for her past sins.”
He was initially sentenced to 50 years in prison.
Shah and his longtime aide, Stuart Smith, “were each charged with conspiracy to commit telemarketing fraud in which they victimized 10 or more people over the age of 55, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years” for money laundering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison,” the Justice Department said in a statement released at the time of their arrest.
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Jen Shah was indicted Friday on federal wire fraud charges.
(Bravo)
“The maximum possible sentences in this case are set by Congress and are presented here for informational purposes only, as any sentence for the defendants will be determined by the judge.”
According to the original indictment, they used the names of third parties for their business entities. Shah and Smith told victims to use encrypted messages as a form of communication and instructed users to send payments to offshore accounts.
Jennifer Shah appears in New York federal court, Friday, January 6, 2023. Federal prosecutors are seeking 10 years in prison for the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City cast member.
(AP)
He initially pleaded guilty in 2021. A year later, Shah pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal in which the money laundering charge was dropped. He agreed to forfeit $6.5 million and pay up to $9.5 million in restitution.
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When authorities entered the Housewives production set looking for Shah, Bravo cameras were rolling. Minutes before the National Security Agency arrived at the Beauty Lab parking lot, Shah received a call from an unknown person and abruptly left the shoot.
Shah was arrested on March 30, 2021 while returning home. He was charged with conspiracy to commit telemarketing fraud and money laundering along with co-worker and former friend Stuart Smith.
“The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Jen Shah pleaded guilty in July to “put this ordeal behind her,” according to her attorney.
(Chad Kirkland/Bravo)
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Jennifer Shah, who portrays herself as a wealthy and successful reality TV businessman, and Stuart Smith, who is described as Shah’s ‘first assistant,’ created and sold “master lists” of innocent individuals. for the other members of z’s scheme to repeatedly commit fraud.
“In reality and as alleged, the business opportunities presented to the victims by Shah, Smith and their associates were simply fraudulent schemes motivated by greed to steal money from the victims. They were sent to prison for their crimes.”
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Before pleading guilty in July, Shah spent more than a year pleading his innocence on “RHOSLC,” even using the catchphrase in the Housewives season two prologue: “The only thing I’m guilty of is Shah – love it”.
His lawyer Priya Chaudhry confirmed at the time that Jen’s guilty plea was motivated by Shah’s desire to move on with his life and “put this ordeal behind him”.
Shah was arrested in March 2021 and charged with a nationwide telemarketing scheme.
(Rick Bowmer)
“Ms. Shah is a good woman who crossed the line. She takes full responsibility for her actions and deeply apologizes to all those affected,” Chaudhry said. “Mrs. Shah also regrets the disappointment of her husband, children, family, friends and supporters.
“Jen pleaded guilty because she wants to pay her debt to society and put herself and her family through this ordeal.”
Jennifer is married to Sharrieff Shah, the special teams coordinator for the University of Utah football team. The couple has two children.