On July 11, Jen Shah, a member of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, admitted to conspiring to commit telemarketing fraud.
Page Contents
According to PageSix, Shah went before Manhattan Federal Court Judge Sidney Stein to submit a guilty plea to the counts to which she had previously pleaded not guilty. As part of the plea agreement, Shah will receive a less severe punishment.
The US Attorney’s Office would reportedly drop her two accusations of conspiring to carry out money laundering. The 48-year-old could have received five years of supervised release and up to 30 years in prison.
In addition, Shah consented to reinstitute $9.5 million as part of her plea deal. According to ABC News, Shah has stated that she won’t challenge the verdict if the sentence is less than 168 months or 14 years.
The 48-year-old Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star was accused of wire fraud and money laundering in March 2021. Jen Shah is accused of using telemarketing scams to defraud numerous people around the nation, according to the US Attorney’s Office’s case against her.
Jen Shah and her accomplice Stuart Smith allegedly defrauded their victims, the bulk of them were above the age of 55, according to the accusations. She is accused of giving people consultancy lists of fictitious clients. The allegations state that Shah may have started engaging in telemarketing fraud around 2012.
Shah could spend up to 30 years in prison for the alleged money-laundering plot if proven guilty. Due to the false accusations made against her, she might spend up to 20 years in prison. Smith, Shah’s assistant, has also admitted guilt on the charges.
The TV personality could be sentenced to up to 14 years in prison, pay a $16 million fine, and pay back the money she defrauded. With restitution of up to $9.5 million feasible, the estimated fine is around $6.5 million. November 28 has been set as the official hearing date for the sentencing.
According to Matthew Russel of Inner City Press, Jen Shah was questioned in court on her criminal activity. She answered:
Wire fraud that offers services with little to no value. We exchanged emails and phone conversations across state lines. I was aware that a significant portion of the buyers were seniors. I genuinely regret this.
Meanwhile, US Attorney Audrey Strauss made the following remarks in a news release:
“In reality, and as indicated, the alleged business opportunities pushed on victims by Shah, Smith, and their accomplices were essentially deceptive schemes motivated by a desire to steal victims’ money,” the statement reads. For their alleged crimes, these people are now facing prison sentences.
Jennifer Shah Case Decision
The allegations state that Jen Shah and her accomplices defrauded their victims of $5 million. A judge rejected Shah’s request to have the case dismissed in August of last year, signaling that Manhattan prosecutors had enough evidence to charge and convict Shah in court.
Also Read: Taylor Kitsch Doesn’t Have Time To Date Or Wed
