The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’s Jen Shah began her six-and-a-half-year jail sentence for a telemarketing fraud scheme. She entered Federal Prison Camp in Texas on Friday. Her team shared a note on her social media handle
Moreover, TV personality Jen Shah was in a telemarketing fraud scheme. She officially started serving her six-and-a-half-year sentence in federal prison in Bryan, Texas on Friday.
Here is everything to know about ‘Real Housewives’ star Jen Shah’s Fraud case.
Where is she serving her prison time?
Her lawyers initially requested that Jen serve her time at Federal Prison Camp Bryan. A minimum-security federal prison camp about 100 miles outside of Austin, Texas. And that’s where she will be now for the next 6.5 years, per NBC.
Jen shared photos of their new tattoos on her Instagram story shortly.
The outlet explains that these types of prison camps “don’t have the cells, barbed wire or stringent regulations characteristic of higher-security prisons”. Those are “mostly nonviolent offenders who are serving short sentences or who committed white-collar crimes.”
There, she will still be able to have visitors and do things like watch TV, do arts and crafts and go to religious services if she wants to.
Before surrendering herself, Jen posted a long Instagram Story filled with reposts from fans and friends who were cheering her on.
When was Jen arrested?
Police arrested Jen, 47, and her assistant, Stuart Smith, 43, on March 30, 2021, while Bravo cameras were rolling. Also, Police charged both with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing. Also one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, per People.
Authorities accused Jen and Stuart of building a telemarketing scheme that targeted at least 10 people over the age of 55 for at least 10 years. The pair reportedly created lists of “potential victims” called “leads.” Then, they sold those leads to telemarketing companies, per People. According to the indictment, Jen and Stuart “received as profit a share of the fraudulent revenue per the terms of their agreement with those participants.”
“Shah and Smith objectified their very real human victims as ‘leads’ to be bought and sold, offering their personal information for sale to other members of their fraud ring,” said HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh, according to Us Weekly.
How long will Jen Shah be in prison?
In a decision handed down by New York-based federal Judge Sidney H. Stein, Jen was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison, Forbes reported. So, Jen also agreed to pay up to $9.5 million in restitution and forfeit $6.5 million, the outlet said. Once Jen gets out, she’ll be subject to five years of supervised release, NBC reported.
Jen at one point faced a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Her initial plea deal called for 11 to 14 years in prison and restitution of up to $9.5 million, per ABC News.
Where will she go to prison?
On Feb. 17, Jen has to surrender herself to the Bureau of Prisons. At that time, she will begin her prison sentence in the “Texas region,” People reported.
While the judge hasn’t announced where she will serve her sentence. Jen’s lawyers are asking that she be placed at FPC Bryan in Bryan, Texas. This just so happens to be the same place where Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes was. She will start serving her 11-year term in April.
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