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Following a plea deal she made in July, and a subsequent request for a reduced prison sentence, RHOSLC star Jen Shah received a sentence of 78 months. Additionally, the TV personality, who made her debut on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City in November 2020, would serve five years of supervised release to ensure she committed no more crimes after leaving prison.
Jen received the verdict during her appearance in a New York City court on Friday, January 6, months after pleading guilty to her role in a telemarketing conspiracy. Her husband, Sharrieff, and their sons, Sharrieff Jr., and Omar, were also present during her court appearance, offering emotional support to the family matriarch.
After receiving her sentence, the 49-year-old’s husband went up to her to offer a kiss and a hug, giving her the added strength to embrace her mom and two sons before walking out of the courtroom.
Jen Shah Regrets Her Criminal Actions Amid Sentence
Following her sentence, Priya Chaudhry, the attorney representing Jen Shah, released a statement saying the reality star was profoundly sorry to the people she hurt. She also regretted the mistakes she made and hoped to make amends by facing the brunt of the law. The attorney continued:
“Jen has faith in our justice system, understands that anyone who breaks the law will be punished, and accepts this sentence as just. Jen will pay her debt to society, and when she’s a free woman, she vows to pay her debt to the victims harmed by her mistakes.”
The presiding Judge, Sidney Stein, addressed the packed courtroom during the hearing on Friday, attributing the population to the role of Jen Shah on RHOSLC. However, she made it clear that her fame amounted to naught in the face of the law. Thankfully, the TV star understood that too. She reportedly offered a public apology following her hearing, promising to earn the funds to pay restitution for her fraudulent activities.
Jen Hoped For A Lighter Sentence
Jen Shah’s sentence came in the wake of her plea for a reduced sentence to just three years back in December. Per reports, her crimes attracted a maximum sentence of up to 30 years behind bars. However, the star, who initially insisted on her innocence even after her assistant, Shaun Smith, pleaded guilty, eventually gave in. In July 2022, she entered into a guilty plea deal to admit to her role in the fraud scheme.
Jen Shah also agreed not to appeal the case if she received a prison sentence less than 14 years. Although the icon’s request for a much lighter sentence of three years was not met, she received a verdict relatively close. While the mom of two is expected to report to jail on February 17, the facility in question, which would house her for the next six and half years, remains undisclosed.