Admin 
The fourth season of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (RHOSLC) kicked off in September 2023 on the Bravo network. If you are a long-time fan of this series, you may notice significant changes in the casting.
Despite the controversies, the previous cast of Lisa Barlow, Heather Gay, Meredith Marks, and Whitney Rose returned as main cast members. This time, Monica Garcia joined as a new main cast, Angie Katsanevas was promoted to the main stars, and Mary Cosby joined as a friend.
However, one cast member unlikely to return to the show soon is Jen Shah, who was indicted for her involvement in a telemarketing scam and began her prison sentence early in 2023.
What were the accusations against Jen Shah? In what prison is she incarcerated? What were the events that led to her sentencing?
This article tackles these trending issues and discusses Shah’s experience in jail. This article also explores the facility where Shah is and when she will likely get out of prison.
Are you looking for a loved one or notable person incarcerated for fraud-related crimes? Visit LookUpInmate.org and use its online inmate search tool to find their location, jail records, and judicial reports.
Where Is Jen Shah’s Prison Located?
Jen Shah turned herself in to the Federal Prison Camp (FPC) Bryan in Texas in February 2023.
FPC Bryan is in Bryan, Texas, in Brazos County, about 100 miles northwest of Houston and 100 miles northeast of Austin.
In January 2023, the court sentenced the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star to 78 months in jail and five years of supervised release. In July 2022, she pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud.
The Accusations
Authorities in Utah arrested Shah and her assistant, Stuart Smith, for their alleged roles in a telemarketing scheme. This plan included defrauding hundreds of individuals, many over 55, by selling them lists of leads for fake business opportunities.
Telemarketing involves directly marketing services or goods to potential customers over the internet, telephone, or fax. However, the intrusive nature of telemarketing and reports of scams and fraud have generated a significant backlash against this marketing practice.
Jen, whose full name is Jennifer Shah, was indicted for her supposed role in a long-running telemarketing scam while filming the second season of RHOSLC, which premiered on the Bravo television (T.V.) network.
The Timeline
A press release mentioned that Shah and Smith’s alleged participation in the scheme dates back to 2012. Although they were indicted in March 2021, their case went back to 2019 and included 10 others previously charged with conspiring to commit wire fraud through telemarketing.
As of July 2022, all defendants in the case, including Shah, pleaded guilty to their respective charges. The following sections show the events leading up to Shah’s sentencing and imprisonment.
The Charges
Reality star Jen Shah was charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud through telemarketing.
Fraud is committed with the use of deception to illegally or unethically gain something at someone’s expense. Wire fraud involves using the internet or some form of communication, like fax, telephone, text, social media messaging, or email, to commit fraud. This crime is punishable by prison, fines, or both.
Money laundering is the illegal process of generating large amounts of money through criminal activity and making the money appear to have come from a legitimate source. Because criminal activity makes the money seem “dirty,” the “laundering” process should turn the money “clean.”
If convicted, Shah and her assistant would face a maximum sentence of 30 years for wire fraud. They could also face an additional 20 years for money laundering.
After Shah pleaded guilty to the wire fraud charges, the money laundering charge against her was dropped as part of a plea deal. Shah would then face 14 years in prison instead.
The First Court Appearance
After her arrest, Shah stood before a Utah judge on March 30, 2021. The judge gave her and Smith the following conditions:
- Do not commit any federal offense upon release
- Appear as required
- Do not travel outside Utah except for the New York City court
- Do not travel internationally
- Do not contact codefendants
- Do not engage in telemarketing
Witnesses saw Shah and Smith subsequently leaving the Utah court and ignoring the reporters’ questions while heading to their vehicles.
The Plea
On April 2, 2021, Shah attended her hearing and pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiring to commit money laundering and one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud associated with telemarketing.
Shah’s counsel included Clayton Simms, her local Utah lawyer, and Henry Asbill, a well-known white-collar crime defense attorney from Washington, District of Columbia (D.C.). The government saw the money laundering scandal to have been worth $5,000,000.
Shah met with U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein in July 2022 in New York City, and the television star changed her plea from not guilty to guilty.
One reporter mentioned that Shah would plead guilty on the first count of her criminal charge for the telemarketing fraud scheme that prosecutors said preyed on elderly victims.
Bail Conditions
The judge required Jen Shah to sign a $1 million personal recognizance (P.R.) bond during the April 2, 2021 hearing, as she was a flight risk. Additionally, the reality T.V. star was given one week to secure the bond with $250,000 worth of property or cash. She was also required to present two co-signers for the bond.
A P.R. bond allows a defendant to still be released even without posting a bond. Instead, the accused signs a document to ensure an appearance for future court hearings.
Shah’s lawyer asked to allow them to secure the bond in two weeks instead. The judge approved but mentioned Shah must still sign the $1 million P.R. bond by the day’s end.
Aside from the bond requirements, other conditions of Shah’s bail included the following:
- Do not use drugs or consume alcohol excessively
- Do not open any bank accounts
- Continue her mental health treatments
Jen’s Assets
Shah’s attorney told the court that the T.V. star does not own any real property, including the home labeled “Jen’s Chalet” featured on the RHOSLC series. The government alleged that Shah did not willingly disclose her assets during the investigation.
When the judge asked about Shah’s employment outside telemarketing, her lawyer said Shah works in the fashion business and appears on a news show.
Trial Date
During the April 2021 hearing, the judge set October 18, 2021, as the next trial date. However, during the August 2021 hearing, the court postponed the trial until March 2022 following updated COVID-19 protocols.
Eventually, the trial date got pushed back to July 18, 2022. However, Shah’s guilty plea early that month resulted in her no longer needing a trial.
Request to Dismiss Jen’s Case Was Denied
In August 2021, Shah filed a motion to dismiss her case, but the judge denied this motion.
Furthermore, her attorney, Daniel R. Alonso, with associates Michael S. Chum and Henry W. Asbill, announced their resignation. According to court documents, Shah retained attorney Priya Chaudhry to represent the reality star in the case.
The Day of Arrest
The preparation for Shah’s arrest by members of the New York Police Department and Homeland Security appeared in a second season episode of the RHOSLC series, which aired in November 2021.
In the moments before law enforcement authorities took Shah into custody, she told her castmates she could not go on a trip with them to Vail, Colorado. Her reason was that her husband, Sharrieff Shah, had a medical emergency.
After telling costar Heather Gay that the doctors were unsure whether to perform surgery, Shah shared the bad news with fellow costars Whitney Rose, Lisa Barlow, and Jennie Nguyen, who were onboard a bus preparing to leave.
However, authorities pulled into the parking lot of Gay’s beauty clinic nearly 15 minutes later. Shah’s costars were in shock after Homeland Security showed up to look for her.
Joseph Ciaccio’s Reduced Sentence Following Paralysis From a Car Accident
In November 2021, Joseph Ciaccio, convicted in 2019 for conspiring to commit wire fraud related to telemarketing, was sentenced to time served. Ciaccio is one of Shah’s codefendants.
Sentencing an offender to time served means the sentence’s length is the same as the time the criminal spent in jail. In other words, the sentence has been completed, and the defendant goes free.
Ciaccio received the sentence due to a recent car accident that left him paraplegic (paralyzed in the legs and lower body). Attorney Ronald Richards said the judge was compassionate and sentenced Ciaccio below guidelines.
Smith Changes His Plea
In November 2021, Smith changed his plea after initially pleading not guilty. In the new appeal, Smith pleaded guilty to three counts:
- Money laundering
- Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Obstruction of justice
Attorney Richards said Smith admitted to hiding money and ownership, defrauding older people, and lying to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in a deposition (sworn evidence), constituting perjury.
Smith was sentenced in March 2022 and faces a maximum jail sentence of 30 years.
Jen Shah’s Dismissal Request Over Hulu Documentary Denied by Judge Stein
After the ABC News documentary The Housewife & the Shah Shocker was released, Shah’s legal team claimed the show would ruin her chances at having an unbiased jury pool since everyone could access the documentary before her trial.
The Housewife & the Shah Shocker aired in 2021 and is accessible on the Hulu network.
Court documents mentioned that Shah requested the court to grant her leave to file a motion dismissing the indictment.
Her concern was that remedies such as a change in venue or emphatic jury instructions would likely not protect her rights, given the extensive Hulu viewership across the U.S. and her public notoriety.
However, the U.S. Attorney stated there was no basis to drop the legal case. Shah’s attorneys responded by calling out the government officials who participated in the Hulu project.
The U.S. Attorney is a district-specific federal law enforcement officer involved in civil litigation wherein the U.S. is a party.
The RHOSLC star argued against this statement, saying the government cannot shift blame to ABC News or Hulu for the final program’s editing.
Because the show featured government agents publicly expressing opinions to the press about a pending case, Shah argued the government is fully accountable for what would follow. The government should also be responsible for damages resulting from violating the rules.
Another Plea Change for Jen’s Codefendant
Nearly a month after Smith changed his plea to guilty, another codefendant, Shane Hanna, also changed his plea. Hanna, one of the 10 others charged regarding the 2019 case, pleaded guilty in December 2021 after previously pleading not guilty.
Hanna was guilty of eight counts of superseding information to wire fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud, money laundering, wire fraud, and false statements on loan applications.
A superseding indictment replaces or amends the original charge after obtaining additional evidence or information.
Aggravated identity theft happens when a person knowingly possesses, transfers, or uses someone else’s information without permission and uses that identification to commit a crime.
Access device fraud is any crime involving access devices, such as debit cards, automated teller machine (ATM) cards, and credit cards, to affect electronic monetary transactions by fund transfer from one bank account to another through financial institutions.
Richards said Hanna’s plea change may have adverse effects on Shah. He also said Hanna’s charges were more severe than Smith’s plea bargain and may have a mandatory minimum sentence on aggravated identity theft.
Jen Shah Wants All RHOSLC Clips Excluded From Trial
Court documents obtained by media outfits as of February 2022 mentioned that any use of RHOSLC clips during Shah’s trial should fall under the exceptions to the hearsay rule of evidence because such clips are out-of-court statements.
The hearsay rule prohibits out-of-court statements used as proof of that statement from being used as evidence because of the other party’s inability to cross-examine the person making the statement.
The defense also submitted around 40 questions for the prospective jury members. These questions included numerous items about each potential juror’s knowledge of the reality T.V. series.
The Government Claims It Has “Evidence” of Fraud
Court documents as of February 2022 showed that while Shah’s team prepared their side of the story, the government also worked on its case.
Based on that file, the government intended to provide evidence of fraud using summary charts, financial records, and limited testimony regarding those records and charts. The government also planned to give testimony by discerning witnesses who know the defendant’s disposition.
Should there be proof of fraud or money laundering, the offender can be punished with fines, imprisonment, or both.
For example, federal penalties for money laundering include 10 to 20 years in prison and up to $500,000 in fines or twice the laundered funds’ value.
U.S. Attorney’s Stance on Jen Shah’s Subpoena Request
In March 2022, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams asked the judge to deny Shah’s previous subpoena for documents, communications, and video footage related to The Housewife & the Shah Shocker documentary.
According to Williams, there was no basis to conclude that such materials constitute relevant, admissible evidence.
In the previous month, Shah’s legal team subpoenaed ABC News for the video footage used in the documentary, including the unaired ones.
The network filed a motion against the subpoena, arguing that Shah has no right to the footage. The network also noted that the journalist’s privilege protects the requested material.
The journalist or reporter’s privilege gives journalists a limited right not to be forced to reveal confidential news sources or information in court.
Williams supported the network’s motion and said the court should not permit the defendant’s attempts to seek such documents, video footage, and communications without showing specificity, admissibility, and relevance, none of which the defendant could present.
Shah’s team responded with a memo opposing ABC’s motion and claimed the request for the documentary materials was not hypocritical because the footage allegedly included witness statements.
Although Shah’s team acknowledged that the RHOSLC clips had no evidentiary value and did not relate to any material fact regarding Shah’s case, the Shah Shocker subpoena sought statements made by actual witnesses.
When Was Jen Sentenced?
On January 6, 2023, the court officially sentenced Shah to six and a half years in prison with five years of supervised release. The judge required her to surrender on February 17, 2023.
The court initially scheduled the sentencing for November 18, 2022, but changed the hearing to December 15, 2022, after the prosecutors requested the reschedule. When November came, the trial was rescheduled again to January 6, 2023, upon Shah’s lawyers’ request.
The Government Recommended at Least 10 Years
Weeks before Shah’s sentencing on January 6, 2023, the U.S. government recommended Shah to serve a 10-year sentence. The government also considered the reality star the most culpable person in the case and claimed her expressions of remorse were belated and hollow.
Victim Impact Statements
Before Shah’s sentencing, several of the T.V. celebrity’s alleged victims asked the judge to hand out the punishment fitting for her crime.
One victim allegedly lost more than $100,000, had to remortgage their home, and almost ended their marriage in divorce due to the financial aftermath.
The victim also said Shah sounded sympathetic and convincing, which led the victim to trust her. Although the victim acknowledged the courts could punish the lawless activities committed, and Shah would serve her due punishment, the victim said Shah would still have to answer to God.
Other victims claimed they considered suicide after losing thousands of dollars on fraudulent tutoring courses. One person said they felt like their sanity became doubtful, their confidence had eroded, their independence became limited, and their trust in other people was no longer there.
The victims also called out the fraudulent telemarketers to stop stealing, repay the stolen money, and perform acts of restitution. Such actions would include the following:
- Living as the victims did
- Using limited resources
- Paying for medical services, like psychiatric or therapy medicine
Where Did Jen Shah’s Attorneys Want Her to Serve Her Sentence?
After Shah’s sentencing in January 2023 for the fraud case charges, her lawyers requested that she report to a minimum-security facility in Texas to serve her sentence.
Reporting to Prison
Jen arrived and reported to FPC Bryan in Texas on February 17, 2023, to start her 78-month prison sentence. Her attorney, Priya Chaudhry, said Shah had an unyielding resolve to make her victims whole again and turn her life around.
Chaudhry further mentioned that Shah was committed to serving her sentence purposefully and courageously. The celebrity was fueled by her desire to make amends for the harm she caused and help others in her new community.
What Is Jen’s Daily Routine Like?
At the facility where Shah is staying, inmates get up at 6:00 AM on weekdays and follow a fixed schedule. Official counts during weekdays occur at 4:05 PM and 10:00 PM, so inmates must stand beside their beds at those times. On weekends and holidays, a third count happens at 10:00 AM.
The prison serves breakfast between 6:30 AM and 7:15 AM on weekdays and from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM on weekends and holidays.
Before lunchtime, inmates must return to their housing units until meals are served between 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM daily. Afterward, the facility serves dinner from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM on weekdays, weekends, and holidays.
Inmates can visit the indoor recreation area, chapel, or recreation yard pavilion during evening meals until 8:45 PM. On weekends, inmates can go to those areas after lunch while the compound is open until 3:30 PM.
Lights out in the facility is at 10:30 PM during weekdays and 11:30 PM on weekends and holidays.
Jen Shah’s Prison Life: Adapting to Simple Meals and Overcoming Negative Thoughts
The harsh conditions behind bars can give Jen Shah a challenging time to adjust, but keeping a positive outlook may help her find this new lifestyle manageable.
The RHOSLC star wrote in a journal entry about her time behind bars inside FPC Bryan, serving six and a half years for fraud and telemarketing scam charges.
In a March 2023 report, Shah described her prison’s menu options, which were significantly different from the extravagant meals she used to eat. She said the meal had one piece of wheat bread, two jelly packets, an apple, and one instant oatmeal packet.
She would save the apple and oatmeal packet in her locker since she had limited time to go to the commissary (a store that sells food and supplies). This way, she could eat something if she got hungry.
Aside from missing her family, Shah said she would spend her days getting used to her new living conditions, which was still difficult for her to believe.
She wrote in her journal that she often stared into the dark and thought her new reality was only a dream. She would question why she was in prison despite knowing the reason and feel that someone like her should not belong there.
Shah further wrote that she would instantly stop herself from making self-destructive thoughts and acknowledge that she was in prison because of her wrong decisions, so Shah had no one to blame but herself.
Despite Shah’s efforts to remain optimistic, she admitted it was challenging not to become emotional about her situation.
Hopeful for Leniency
Before Shah’s sentencing, Sharrieff, who wed her in 1994, wrote an emotional statement on his wife’s behalf. According to court documents, he asked the judge to show her leniency in the final ruling and claimed his wife was genuinely remorseful for her telemarketing scheme involvement.
Sharrieff mentioned in the court filing that Jen was never arrested or detained for any crime. He also said his wife’s legal trouble was due to a combination of events that came together and caused her to spiral uncontrollably.
Furthermore, he blamed his absence for not noticing Jen’s suffering. She frequently told him she felt alone, and he would see her spending more time alone in their bedroom. Sometimes, she even slept in their children’s bed, waiting for him to return home.
Jen’s Request to Help Pay Legal Fees
In the second part of the RHOSLC reunion in February 2023, costars Lisa Barlow and Heather Gay claimed Shah asked her friends to help pay her legal fees. Gay, the author of Bad Mormon, said she did not give money, but she knew people who did.
Meanwhile, Lisa claimed her husband, John, was asked to contribute. Like Gay, Lisa did not give money because her counsel said she probably should not. Without that counsel, she said she would have given money.
Jen Shah’s Prison Sentence Reduced by One Year
In a March 2023 report, the reality star, who reported to federal prison in February 2023 after pleading guilty to wire fraud, has been scheduled for release in August 2028. Based on the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) database, her prison sentence has been reduced by one year.
Thus, from Shah’s original sentence of six and a half years, the RHOSLC star’s new release date is now August 30, 2028, one year earlier than her original sentence after reporting to FPC Bryan.
Shah’s manager, Chris Giovanni, spoke with her over the phone and said Shah was doing well. Giovanni stated that Shah remains committed to making her victims whole again.
The manager also said Shah had initiated her restitution payments and hoped to have her home immediately. This way, she could resume her life with her family and work and put this chapter behind her life soon.
How Many Inmates Can the Prison Hold?
A March 2023 report mentioned that Shah was serving her sentence in FPC Bryan in Brazos County, Texas.
According to the BOP website, the minimum security prison has a population of 699 female offenders as of November 2023.
Aside from Shah, another notable inmate in FPC Bryan is Elizabeth Holmes, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Theranos. A federal court convicted Holmes of defrauding investors and sentenced her in November 2022 to 11 years in prison.
What Kind of Recreational Activities Are Available?
According to the FPC Bryan handbook, the facility provides hobby craft programs, such as artwork, knitting, quilling, crocheting, beading, plastic canvas, paper art, ceramics, and fimo.
Quilling involves using paper strips that are rolled, curled, looped, twisted, and manipulated to produce various shapes glued together into decorative designs.
Fimo, stylized as FIMO, is a modeling clay that can be hardened in an oven.
The facility also offers physical fitness programs and wellness classes on disease prevention and nutrition. The facility’s leisure libraries also provide reading materials like reference books, newspapers, fiction and non-fiction books, and periodicals.
What Is the Required Uniform?
The facility requires inmates to wear uniforms of khaki shirts and pants from Monday to Friday between 7:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
The inmate handbook specifies that offenders can wear a plain wedding band, a suitable religious medallion, and a chain without stones inside the shirt, provided each item’s value does not exceed $100.
Prison Photos of Jen in Uniform
In a report dated May 9, 2023, observers spotted Jen Shah for the first time in her prison uniform since she started her sentence.
Photos obtained by some news outlets showed the former RHOSLC celebrity walking with a fellow inmate in the yard of FPC Bryan in Texas.
Despite being incarcerated, Shah appeared to maintain her beauty routine, having her hair tied behind in a sleek ponytail and wearing a pair of simple gold earrings.
In an Instagram story shared by Shah’s assistant, he mentioned that Shah looked beautiful, with her hair looking great and her skin appearing glowy.
What Are Jen’s Work Options?
FPC Bryan allows inmates to work in carpentry, landscaping, food service, painting, plumbing, general maintenance, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning).
The facility also offers a UNICOR job program that employs inmates in Federal Prison Industries (FPI) factories. UNICOR is the trade name of FPI, a wholly-owned government corporation.
Can Jen’s Friends and Family Visit?
Shah’s family and friends can visit her by following FPC Bryan’s visitation schedules.
Visiting hours are usually from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sundays and Saturdays, but visitors must arrive by 3:00 PM for processing. During federal holidays, visiting hours end at 3:00 PM, so visitors must arrive by 1:00 PM.
Jen’s Family’s Status While She’s in Prison
According to a September 2023 report, Meredith Marks, Jen Shah’s RHOSLC costar, would check in on Shah’s husband, Sharrieff, and sons Sharrieff Jr., 28, and Omar, 19, while Shah was in prison.
Marks said she was in touch with Shah’s husband and sons, who appeared to be thriving and doing their best despite the challenging situation.
Has Jen Shah Really Turned Over a New Leaf?
Although Shah showed remorse for her crimes, knew what she did was wrong, and felt guilt for the affected families, it is uncertain whether she changed for good until after her release.
Based on a July 2023 news article, Shah had some positive developments, such as completing an anger management program as a part of her sentence and gaining insight into herself and her anger.
She stated that she learned more about anger and how to safely and beneficially respond to it through homework, journaling, audio lessons, and the two-hour weekly group sessions.
Shah also mentioned wanting everyone to know she was doing the necessary work to make amends to her victims. However, whether she can do so remains to be seen.
Jen Shah’s Husband Details Her 50th Birthday Celebration in Prison
Had Jen Shah not been convicted and sent to jail, her 50th birthday may still have been the usual drama-crammed, combative, and over-the-top gathering for which the RHOSLC cast is known.
Instead, the Real Housewives star, born on October 4, 1973, had to spend her 50th birthday in prison.
Sharrieff, a University of Utah football coach, said they were not where he thought they would be when his wife turned 50. However, he expressed complete conviction that God intended them to be where they were, and he was continually grateful and humbled.
He also mentioned that he contacted 50 of Shah’s family members and close friends for her 50th birthday. He asked them to send a birthday message to him so he could give it to her. The experience was more than he could imagine when she received the messages.
Sharrieff also thanked the fans for their support and assured his wife that she was loved and not forgotten.
Are Jen and Coach Shah Still Together?
Despite Jen Shah spending time in prison, her incarceration has not adversely affected her marriage to Sharrieff.
According to an online magazine article dated September 11, 2023, a representative for the RHOSLC star said the couple is staying strong despite the challenges they have faced with Shah’s five-and-a-half-year sentence.
The representative added that Sharrief is very supportive of his wife and is still 100% behind her.
References
- Telemarketing: Definition, What They Do, Example, and Types
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/telemarketing.asp - What Is Fraud?
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fraud.asp - Wire Fraud Laws: Overview, Definition and Examples
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/w/wirefraud.asp - Money Laundering: What It Is and How to Prevent It
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/moneylaundering.asp - Time served
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/time_served - Offices of the United States Attorneys
https://www.justice.gov/usao - Hearsay rule
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/hearsay_rule - Reporter’s Privilege
https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/reporters-privilege/ - FPC BRYAN
https://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/bry/ - Elizabeth Holmes
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-Holmes - INMATE ADMISSION & ORIENTATION HANDBOOK
https://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/bry/bry_ao_handbook.pdf?v=1.0.0 - Art Making Activity: Paper Quilling
https://thewestmoreland.org/blog/art-making-project-paper-quilling/ - Program Details
https://www.bop.gov/inmates/custody_and_care/unicor_about.jsp