Jen Shah Reveals Instagram Trolling Led To Suicidal Thoughts

American TV personality and reality star Jen Shah has revealed that she struggled with her mental health and nearly ended her own life after her name was used in a troll social media account following her legal battles.

The "Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City" star was arrested after being accused of using a telemarketing campaign to defraud people of money, particularly the elderly ones over 55 years old.

Shah says the whole thing affected her badly, save for her husband, who did the needful by seeking medical attention for her.

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The reality TV star was arrested in March 2021 for allegedly committing fraud and money laundering after being accused of targeting elderly people over 55 in a hoax telemarketing scheme.

According to Page Six, Shah and her colleague, Stuart Smith, are accused of defrauding hundreds of individuals by persuading gullible victims to invest in shady web schemes and enterprises since 2012.

Prosecutors claimed that they built lists of possible victims or "leads," many of whom they had previously taken advantage of, and distributed these names to other conspirators so that they might retarget the individuals, for which they would receive a portion in return.

The Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent-in-Charge said, "Shah and Smith flaunted their lavish lifestyle to the public as a symbol of their 'success.'" He further said, "In reality, they allegedly built their opulent lifestyle at the expense of vulnerable, often elderly, working-class people."

Prosecutors divulged that Shah made about $5 million in "crime proceeds." She initially pleaded "not guilty" to the charge.

The "Bravolebrity" opened up about her suicidal thoughts after Angie and Chris Harrington hijacked her name for their troll Instagram account in the wake of her fraud case.

Angie is Shah's co-star on the reality show "RHOSLC" and is married to Chris. He admitted to creating an Instagram account called "Shah's Exposed" to troll their former friend, Lisa Barlow.

Shah revealed that the use of her last name made it look like her entire family was in on it when, in fact, that wasn't the case.

"I tried to commit suicide and my husband had to take me to the hospital," she recounted per Page Six, further adding that "the whole Angie Harrington and Chris Harrington thing affected me so much that I tried to take my life."

She had earlier disclosed taking antidepressants after being accused of scamming people out of millions of dollars.

When the reality star was first hit with the charges, she denied the claims and maintained her innocence, even swearing to "fight the charges."

"I'm innocent… and look forward to trial so you, along with everyone else, can see the truth," she first wrote in an Instagram post in March.

In the final moments before her trial, she amended her previous "not guilty" plea to "guilty" and even acknowledged conducting "wire fraud" in front of US District Judge Sidney Stein.

According to a Twitter post by Inner City Press, Shah was asked by the judge what she did, to which she responded, "Wire fraud, offering services with little to no value. We used interstate telephones and emails." She continued, "I knew many of the purchasers were over the age of 55. I am so sorry."

If convicted, Shah faces up to 30 years max in prison and five years of supervised release, although she's asking for it to be reduced to 11 to 14 years behind bars and also for restitution of up to $9.5 million in her plea agreement.

Her sentencing, which was earlier scheduled to take place in November, was moved to January 6, 2023.

Following the legal drama and the "guilty" plea change of the embattled reality star, the executive producer of the "Real Housewives" franchise, Andy Cohen, has hinted that Shah may not appear on the show again.

While Responding to a question by a fan at BravoCon 2022 on why Shah was absent from the series panel, Cohen replied, saying, "Once we wrapped Season 3 and she pled guilty, I think that was kind of, unfortunately, the end of, you know, the engagement there."

He further went on to add that he hoped to "sit down with her and talk to her at some point on camera" because he had a lot of questions for her. "RHOSLC" is currently airing its third season.