“Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Jen Shah pleaded guilty Monday to her federal fraud case, according to court documents obtained by Page Six.
Shah appeared before U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein at 10:30 a.m. ET in federal court in Manhattan for a surprise hearing, during which she changed her earlier plea to not guilty.
Jen Shah pleads guilty in her fraud case.therealjenshah/Instagram
Because Bravolebrity pleaded guilty to count one, conspiracy to commit telemarketing wire fraud, the US Attorney agreed to drop count two, conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Judge Stein made sure Shah, 48, understood the change and that she faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and five years of supervised release, but her plea agreement calls for only 11 to 14 years behind bars and restitution of up to 9, 5 million dollars.
Before one charge was dropped, she faced up to 50 years in prison and was scheduled to go on trial on July 18.
Shah changed her plea a week before her trial in Manhattan. NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Her sentencing is now scheduled for November.
The reality star, who previously vehemently denied the allegations against her, apologized for her actions and admitted wrongdoing in court on Monday.
One charge against Shah was dropped after she pleaded guilty. NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
When asked what she did, Shah replied: “Telephone fraud, offering services of little or no value. We used long distance phones and emails. I knew many of the buyers were over 55 years of age. I’m very sorry,” according to Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press.
She also admitted that she knew what she was doing was “wrong and illegal.”
No comment or statement from Jenn Shah as she left court after pleading guilty to federal telemarketing fraud charges Monday morning. pic.twitter.com/0J0YwqQRwl
— JOSH RUSSELL (@jruss_jruss) July 11, 2022
All official documents regarding the change of charge have not yet been released.
Shah’s attorney did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
Shah allegedly conned hundreds of people out of money, targeting the elderly in particular, through a widespread telemarketing scheme.
Shah was spotted in court in New York last week. Alec Tabak
The Bravo star, who was spotted in New York last week wearing a Gucci outfit, has yet to respond to her new request on social media.
Shah’s arrest in March 2021 was filmed and aired on “RHOSLC” Season 2. Season 3 began filming earlier this year with Shah, but it’s unclear if Bravo has yet to film her in recent days.
“I’m going to fight because No. 1, I’m innocent and No. 2, I’m going to represent every other person out there who can’t fight and hasn’t been able to,” Shah said previously. NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Shah previously said she was “struggling with it” during the “RHOSLC” reunion, which aired in March.
“I’m going to fight because number 1, I’m innocent and number 2, I’m going to represent every other person out there who can’t fight and couldn’t,” she continued.
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