Reality TV show 'The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' star Jen Shah, who recently insisted that she isn't the character she plays on RHOSLC, has been sentenced to 6.5 years in prison, on Friday, for defrauding many in a telemarketing scam that stretched over a decade. The 49-year-old initially pleaded not guilty after her arrest in March 2021. However, she changed her plea to guilty before trial.

Shah was sentenced by US District Judge Sidney H. Stein for running a nationwide telemarketing scam that targeted elderly victims who were often unsophisticated electronically and could least afford to lose their hard-earned money.

In court, Shah had admitted to luring thousands of elderly victims into draining their bank accounts and maxing out their credit cards to buy nonexistent "business services".&nbsp;Prosecutors sought a 10-year prison term, which would have been a year under the federal sentencing guidelines’ minimum recommendation but well above the three years in prison that Shah’s lawyer suggested.

During the Friday hearing, she apologised to the "innocent people"&nbsp;she had hurt and pledged to pay $6.5 million in restitution and forfeiture after her prison term. "I struggled to accept responsibility for the longest time because I deluded myself into believing that I did nothing wrong," Shah said, calling it her "own fractured reality".

Standing in front of a packed courtroom in Manhattan, wearing pantsuit and stiletto heels, Shah said, "For years I blamed other people for putting me in this position," before adding that she believed she was duped and manipulated.

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"I alone am responsible for my terrible decisions. It was all my fault and all my wrongdoing. I have no one to blame but myself.&nbsp;I wish I could have stood outside myself and seen the harm I was causing and changed course. I am profoundly and deeply sorry," Shah concluded.

After Shah's statement, her lawyer Priya Chaudhry shared that her client has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent months. "Remorse can be genuine even if it shows up late. Her apology is real," Chaudhry said.

After the sentencing, the 49-year-old left the court without speaking to the media. She is expected to report to prison at a later date.

In a statement, Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams said that Shah "finally faces the consequences of the many years she spent targeting vulnerable, elderly victims".

Shah reportedly began selling leads on people susceptible to scams to telemarketers around 2012 and later ran her own sales floor where underlings cold-called elderly victims offering bogus business opportunities, according to court documents. Prosecutors said Shah was the ringleader of a network of more than two dozen people indicted in the scheme.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Reality TV show 'The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' star Jen Shah, who recently insisted that she isn't the character she plays on RHOSLC, has been sentenced to 6.

Reality TV show 'The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' star Jen Shah, who recently insisted that she isn't the character she plays on RHOSLC, has been sentenced to 6.5 years in prison, on Friday, for defrauding many in a telemarketing scam that stretched over a decade. The 49-year-old initially pleaded not guilty after her arrest in March 2021. However, she changed her plea to guilty before trial. Shah was sentenced by US District Judge Sidney H. Stein for running a nationwide telemarketing scam that targeted elderly victims who were often unsophisticated electronically and could least afford to lose their hard-earned money. In court, Shah had admitted to luring thousands of elderly victims into draining their bank accounts and maxing out their credit cards to buy nonexistent "business services". Prosecutors sought a 10-year prison term, which would have been a year under the federal sentencing guidelines’ minimum recommendation but well above the three years in prison that Shah’s lawyer suggested. During the Friday hearing, she apologised to the "innocent people" she had hurt and pledged to pay $6.5 million in restitution and forfeiture after her prison term. "I struggled to accept responsibility for the longest time because I deluded myself into believing that I did nothing wrong," Shah said, calling it her "own fractured reality". Standing in front of a packed courtroom in Manhattan, wearing pantsuit and stiletto heels, Shah said, "For years I blamed other people for putting me in this position," before adding that she believed she was duped and manipulated. Also read: Who is Jen Shah? Know about Jen Shah’s sentencing timing & restraining order. When did she plead guilty? "I alone am responsible for my terrible decisions. It was all my fault and all my wrongdoing. I have no one to blame but myself. I wish I could have stood outside myself and seen the harm I was causing and changed course. I am profoundly and deeply sorry," Shah concluded. After Shah's statement, her lawyer Priya Chaudhry shared that her client has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent months. "Remorse can be genuine even if it shows up late. Her apology is real," Chaudhry said. After the sentencing, the 49-year-old left the court without speaking to the media. She is expected to report to prison at a later date. In a statement, Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams said that Shah "finally faces the consequences of the many years she spent targeting vulnerable, elderly victims". Shah reportedly began selling leads on people susceptible to scams to telemarketers around 2012 and later ran her own sales floor where underlings cold-called elderly victims offering bogus business opportunities, according to court documents. Prosecutors said Shah was the ringleader of a network of more than two dozen people indicted in the scheme. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Jen Shah, 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' star, sentenced to 6.5 years in prison for wire fraud

`The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City` star Jen Shah has pleaded guilty to criminal charges in connection to an alleged telemarketing scam. As per People, Jen appeared in a New York court on Monday to take part in a change of plea hearing. She switched her original plea of not guilty to guilty, taking responsibility for the fraud and money laundering charges.

"Ms. Shah is a good woman who crossed a line. She accepts full responsibility for her actions and deeply apologizes to all who have been harmed. Ms. Shah is also sorry for disappointing her husband, children, family, friends, and supporters. Jen pled guilty because she wants to pay her debt to society and put this ordeal behind her and her family," Priya Chaudhry, an attorney for the 48-year-old reality star told the publication.

Shah was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing. She faces a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison.

Her sentencing is now scheduled for November.Shah was arrested in March 2021 alongside her assistant, Stuart Smith, for allegedly targeting individuals in a nationwide scheme. At the time, both Shah and Smith, 43, were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Shah and Smith initially pleaded not guilty in April. But her assistant changed his plea to guilty that November.

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`The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City` star Jen Shah has pleaded guilty to criminal charges in connection to an alleged telemarketing scam. As per People, Jen appeared in a New York court on Monday to take part in a change of plea hearing.

`The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City` star Jen Shah has pleaded guilty to criminal charges in connection to an alleged telemarketing scam. As per People, Jen appeared in a New York court on Monday to take part in a change of plea hearing. She switched her original plea of not guilty to guilty, taking responsibility for the fraud and money laundering charges. "Ms. Shah is a good woman who crossed a line. She accepts full responsibility for her actions and deeply apologizes to all who have been harmed. Ms. Shah is also sorry for disappointing her husband, children, family, friends, and supporters. Jen pled guilty because she wants to pay her debt to society and put this ordeal behind her and her family," Priya Chaudhry, an attorney for the 48-year-old reality star told the publication. Shah was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing. She faces a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison. Her sentencing is now scheduled for November.Shah was arrested in March 2021 alongside her assistant, Stuart Smith, for allegedly targeting individuals in a nationwide scheme. At the time, both Shah and Smith, 43, were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Shah and Smith initially pleaded not guilty in April. But her assistant changed his plea to guilty that November. Also read: Monica Dogra reveals when she first identified as pansexual and talks about her secret marriage

American reality star Jen Shah pleads guilty in fraud case

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Jen Shah, 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' star, sentenced to 6.5 years in prison for wire fraud

American reality star Jen Shah pleads guilty in fraud case