NEW YORK — “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Jen Shah pleaded guilty Monday to wire fraud after being accused of running a nationwide telemarketing scheme targeting seniors.
Shah entered her plea in Manhattan federal court, one week before her trial was slated to begin, Variety reported.
A week before her trial's start date, 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' reality TV personality Jen Shah to plead out this morning in Manhattan federal court on telemarketing fraud charges she previously pleaded not guilty to. @CourthouseNews pic.twitter.com/hpJmMWsRBa
— JOSH RUSSELL (@jruss_jruss) July 11, 2022
Shah’s legal woes have been woven into the Bravo show’s storylines, where she is “known for her over-the-top lifestyle, glitzy fashion, many assistants, crying, screaming, throwing drinks and continuous denials,” the entertainment news site reported.
Shah and Stuart Smith were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the special agent in charge of the New York field office of Homeland Security, and the commissioner of the New York City Police Department.
On Monday, Shah changed her plea from not guilty on all counts to guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, NBC News reported.
Shah, 48, who faces a sentence of as many as 14 years in prison, also agreed to forfeit $6.5 million and to pay restitution up to $9.5 million, according to the network.
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