Jen Shah, star of the reality TV show The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in federal prison for running a fraudulent telemarketing scheme. In an interview with White Collar Advice before her surrender to the FPC Bryan in Bryan, Texas, Shah said that her conviction was “the most difficult time in my life.”
Shah said that she didn’t know that she was being investigated for a crime until she was arrested in March 2021. She initially denied the charges and pleaded not guilty, but she changed her plea to guilty in July 2022. Shah said that it was seeing the evidence at trial—a list of victims whose lives had been affected by her actions—that made her realize the severity of her situation.
Though Shah was “nervous and scared to be away from my family,” she also felt a sense of relief on the eve of her surrender. She had put together an 18-page release plan that would help her stay on track and hold her accountable while she was in prison. The plan includes journaling about her experience and sharing her words publicly through a new website. Additionally, she plans to read books about leadership and personal development and exercise regularly, as well as give back to her prison community.
Shah’s plan even covers projects for when she’s released, when she hopes to return to the entertainment industry. She said that her experience has taught her that it’s important to stay true to who you are, no matter what.
“My actions caused harm to people,” Shah said. “But it’s important to remember that everyone makes mistakes, and it’s never too late to turn your life around and make the world a better place. I’m hoping my story can serve as an example of that.”
