Elizabeth Holmes is making new friends behind bars.
The former biotechnology entrepreneur, who faced legal troubles and was found guilty of fraud in relation to her blood-testing firm, Theranos, has reportedly formed a connection with reality television star Jen Shah in prison. The pair are currently serving their respective sentences in the Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas.
Jen Shah Has Taken Elizabeth Holmes Under Her Protective Wings
After she bagged an 11-year prison sentence in November 2022 for defrauding investors in an elaborate scam, Holmes commenced her sentence in May 2023. Now, months into her incarceration, the disgraced tech mogul is said to have formed a bond with Shah.
Spilling the tea to PEOPLE, Chris Giovanni, a representative for the former “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” cast member, claimed:
“They’re friends. They’re both rehabilitating and have bonded over being on this journey of positive change. Their situations brought them together, and they have a good understanding of one another. They’re getting through it together.”
As Giovanni shared, the 49-year-old has assumed a motherly role toward Holmes, particularly since the Theranos founder gave birth to a daughter earlier this year. “Jen’s given her a lot of advice. She’s even met Elizabeth’s baby and held her,” he stated before adding that Shah was “very loving” to the 38-year-old and her newborn.
Additionally, the St. John’s School Stanford University dropout is a regular at the “RHOSLC” alum’s “Sha-mazing Abs” fitness classes. “Jen gets all the ladies together and they rally behind her while she teaches them fitness moves, and Elizabeth has been there right along with them,” the rep further explained.
In case you missed it, Shah pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in July 2022, subsequently getting sentenced to a prison term of six-and-a-half years in January 2023. The mother of two commenced her prison sentence the following month.
While incarcerated, the “Shah Shocker” star and Holmes adhere to a daily wake-up call at 6 AM, as per the prison handbook. Both women are responsible for maintaining cleanliness and sanitation in their cells and are assigned regular job duties, which typically earn inmates compensation ranging from $0.23 to $1.15 for their work.
Luckily for Holmes, she will be getting out of prison earlier than originally expected after getting time shaved off her sentence. According to The Blast, the details on the Bureau of Prisons’ website indicate that the 2015 Horatio Alger Award recipient’s release date has been modified to December 29, 2032, which shortens her sentence by two years compared to the original duration.
While a spokesperson from the Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed this change, they could not provide additional details due to “privacy, safety, and security concerns.” However, they mentioned that any inmate might receive a “good grace” period as part of their expected release date, and some inmates may have the option of early release through other avenues.
The One-Time Forbes’ Under 30 Doers Award Recipient Lost Her Appeal
The update on Holmes’ prison details came nearly three months after a federal judge denied her the opportunity to avoid incarceration. As The Blast highlighted at that time, U.S. District Judge Edward Davila dismissed her legal team’s request, arguing that alleged misconduct during her four-month trial did not result in an unjust verdict.
In his ruling, Judge Davila stated that there was insufficient evidence to justify allowing the mother of two to remain free during the appeal process. He also mentioned that while she was unlikely to pose a danger to the public or attempt to flee if she stayed out of prison, her conviction was likely to be upheld.
The federal judge’s decision meant that the Stanford dropout had to report to the appropriate authorities before the end of April to commence her 11-year sentence. Following the ruling, many assumed that Judge Davila’s denial may have been influenced by reports that Holmes had booked a one-way ticket to Mexico during her trial.
In fact, the action brought on a lawsuit, as it raised concerns about her being a flight risk. The lawsuit sought to expedite the start date of her sentence and asserted that she continued to live a lavish lifestyle. However, Holmes’ legal team contested the claims, explaining that she had purchased the flight ticket long before her conviction.
