'RHOSLC' Star Jen Shah Asks Judge For Significantly Reduced Sentence

Embattled TV personality, Jen Shah, has asked a judge to reduce the sentence in her ongoing legal battle following her "guilty" plea.

The "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" star was allegedly part of a group that executed a hoax telemarketing scheme to defraud citizens of millions of dollars.

Shah previously pleaded "not guilty" to the allegations but changed her plea to "guilty" in July 2022.

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The reality TV star was charged and arrested for allegedly participating in a scam that promised fake financial possibilities to senior citizens online. Shah, who could have received a sentence of up to 30 years in jail if found guilty of the crime, had earlier agreed to a plea deal that called for a sentence reduction of 11 to 14 years in prison and $9.5 million in restitution.

Citing several reasons the reality star should be cut some more slack, her legal team has now asked that the sentence be reduced to three years in prison, arguing that it will be "just and fair." Among the reasons stated by her team is that Shah can be distinguished from all the other accused parties who have received more than three years.

According to a report by Insider, Court documents obtained read, "many had direct contact with the victims of the fraud— whether as the salespeople using fake names or as managers or owners of sales floors whose job it was to convince the client not to chargeback their worthless product," further adding that Shah on her part was never in contact with any of the customers of MPG or anyone who bought the products.

The document also claimed that in contrast to other defendants, Shah has a clean criminal history adding that there was "neither reason nor evidence" to tag her as the ringleader of the scheme.

The star of the "Real Housewives" franchise opened up in a 4-page letter to the judge, which she titled "How I got involved in the situation?" According to the document, Shah wrote, "The terrible business decisions I made and professional relationships I developed stemmed from some personal painful experiences that I was going through in my life."

In justifying her request for a reduced sentence, her legal team also pointed out that her husband and two sons have been caught up in her ongoing legal battle.

"In addition, this case has already cost Jen dearly. Jen—who desperately wanted to be the best mother in the world—has now been the cause of embarrassment, fear, and shame for her beloved sons," the document read.

"Jen would never do anything to risk more harm to her children. She knows the emotional and psychological toll that her sons have already been forced to pay. These are harms for which she will spend the rest of her life atoning."

The Utah native, who first pled not guilty to the charges, changed her plea to "guilty" in July and tried to negotiate a reduced sentence of 11 years. Her sentencing was postponed from an earlier December date and will now be heard on January 6, 2023. She requested to complete her term at the federal facility in Bryan, Texas.

The TV star was required to give up several expensive possessions as part of the terms of her plea deal. Several of her necklaces, rings, fancy jackets and purses may now be seized by the government, according to a court decision last Thursday, to sell them to recover money for her fraud victims.

According to CNN, Shah's possession had previously been seized by the government from her home after a search warrant was conducted in March 2021. The items seized included Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Versace handbags and totes. Also, more than 70 counterfeit Chanel, Dior, Fendi, and Hermes handbags and jewelry were found in her possession.

She acknowledged that her acts were wrong and that "many individuals were affected" at the time of her "guilty" plea, for which she expressed regret.

In an attempt to clear the air and set the records straight, Shah released a statement via her Instagram page as she revealed she'd always been plain with "Bravo."

"On September 14, 2022, I was informed by Bravo executives that I was not invited to attend the Season 3 reunion," the reality star, 49, claimed in the statement. "I was disappointed because I would have no venue to confront inaccuracies and address my storyline with cast members."

She then added that the network reconsidered their decision and later invited her after two months, to which she expressed her joy. Shah said, "I was clear with Bravo that out of respect for the courts and a standing judicial order, I would not be in a position to discuss anything related to my legal case or sentencing."

"Bravo found this unsatisfactory and said they expected to discuss this 'storyline.' That expectation has no regard for me or my family's well-being; so under legal advice, I will not be attending the reunion. I need to focus on the most important thing in my life — my family."