The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City have been sentenced to more than six years in prison for a telemarketing scam scheme

CNN
–

Jennifer Shah, a cast member on Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison for allegedly defrauding thousands of victims In a long-running telemarketing scheme targeting the elderly and vulnerable.

Judge Sidney Stein ordered him to be sentenced to 78 months in prison, plus five years of supervised release.

Shah – The latest reality personality whose fraud was exposed through the pursuit of fame Exaggerated lifestyle – Asked for three years.

She had faced up to 14 years under sentencing guidelines.

Shah’s defense attorney, Priya Chaudhry, released a statement on Friday, saying that Shah “deeply regrets the mistakes I have made and deeply regrets the people I have hurt.”

“Jane believes in our justice system and understands that anyone who breaks the law will be punished and accepts this punishment as fair,” the statement said. “Jane will pay her debts to society and when she becomes a free woman again, she vows to pay her debts to the victims affected by her wrongdoings.”

Judge Stein described Shah as an “integral” member of the decade-old fraud scheme.

Wearing a camel bodysuit, blouse and leopard print stiletto heels, Shah said in a cracked voice, “First of all, I am deeply sorry for what I have done. I take full responsibility for my actions and do everything I can to repair the damage I have caused.”

Of the victims, she said, “I am deeply sorry for the suffering and the great financial loss each and every one of you has endured.”

Shah broke down in tears as she apologized to her husband and two sons, who were present in the packed courtroom.

Shah who was Arrested in March 2021guilty in July. Prosecutors demanded 10 years in prison.

Stein questioned Shah’s lawyer why Shah’s written statement said nothing about her concerns about fraud victims and indicated how she had taken steps to conceal her fraud, including moving bank accounts to Kosovo and Cyprus.

Prosecutor Robert Sobelman said the evidence would be “devastating” if the case goes to trial. He said Shah showed no remorse towards the victims and her text messages revealed that she was laughing with her co-conspirators about them, asking if they had fallen victim to one “so she would stop crying”.

Before the verdict began, Shah sat next to her husband, Sharif Shah, who clasped her hand. Her two sons were sitting across from her.

Approximately 20 of Shah’s family and friends occupied four rows of seats in the courtroom, which accommodated journalists, fans of the show, and other attendees.

None of her reality series co-stars were missing from the seats.

Shah’s attorney said she would no longer sell “Free Jen” or “Justice for Jen” merchandise on her website and any proceeds would go to paying victims.