Jen Shah shares why she decided not to attend Friday’s reunion taping for The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.
The reality star, 49, took to Instagram to share that she would not be attending the reunion after Bravo found it “unsatisfactory” that she was unwilling to discuss her ongoing legal woes. Last July, Shah pleaded guilty to her role in an alleged telemarketing scandal.
“On September 14, 2022, I was informed by Bravo executives that I was not invited to attend the season 3 reunion,” she wrote. “I was disappointed because I didn’t have a place to confront inaccuracies and address my storyline with cast members. Out of nowhere, on November 29th, two and a half weeks ago, I was invited to participate. I was delighted to learn that I would vote [the] Reunion.”
She continued, “I was clear to Bravo that out of respect for the courts and a standing court order, I would not be able to discuss anything related to my legal case or my conviction.”
Jen Shah/Instagram
Shah ended her testimony by explaining that Bravo still wanted her to open the case, stating, “Bravo found this unsatisfactory and said they expected to discuss this ‘storyline.’ This expectation has no regard for me or my family’s well-being; therefore, under legal advice, I will not attend the reunion. I need to focus on what’s important in my life – my family.”
Regarding her charges of conspiracy to wire fraud related to telemarketing and conspiracy to commit money laundering, Shah told a New York City judge this summer, “We used interstate phones and emails. I knew many of the buyers were over the age of 55. I’m so sorry.”
Bravo
“Ms. Shah is a good woman who crossed a line,” Priya Chaudhry, an attorney for the reality star, told PEOPLE at the time. “She takes full responsibility for her actions and offers her deepest apologies to all who have been harmed. Ms Shah is also sorry for disappointing her husband, children, family, friends and supporters. Jen pleaded guilty because she wants to pay her debts to society and put this ordeal behind her and her family.”
Shah was first arrested in Utah in 2021 alongside her assistant Stuart Smith – for allegedly staging a phone scam to scam people over the age of 55.
RELATED VIDEO: RHOSLC Star Jen Shah pleads guilty to fraud in telemarketing scandal
“Jennifer Shah, portrayed on ‘Reality’ television as a wealthy and successful businesswoman, and Stuart Smith, portrayed as Shah’s ‘first assistant,’ have allegedly created ‘lead lists’ of innocent people for other members of their plan and have repeatedly sold out cheating,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss previously said in a press release.
“In reality, and as claimed, the so-called business opportunities foisted on the victims by Shah, Smith and their co-conspirators were just fraudulent schemes motivated by greed to steal the victims’ money. Now these defendants face jail sentences for their alleged crimes.”
Jen Shah. Chad Kirkland/Bravo/Getty
In court, Shah agreed not to appeal if she was sentenced to “168 months”. [in] prison or less” – an amount equivalent to 14 years. She also agreed to lose $6 million and pay $9 million in compensation.
Shah is expected to be sentenced in January. She faces a maximum sentence of up to 30 years in prison.
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The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.