• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • GMA3: WYNTK
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2025 ABC News
  • News

'Real Housewives' star Jennifer Shah pleads guilty to fraud in telemarketing case

2:44
'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' star Jennifer Shah pleads guilty to fraud
Chad Kirkland/Bravo
ByAaron Katersky
July 11, 2022, 4:16 PM

"Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" star Jennifer Shah pleaded guilty in court Monday on criminal charges stemming from an alleged telemarketing scheme.

Shah and others were accused of carrying out a wide-ranging telemarketing scheme that defrauded hundreds of people throughout the U.S., many of whom were over age 55.

She entered into a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in New York that called for a sentence of up to 14 years in prison. The plea agreement also called for Shah to make restitution to victims in an amount of up to $9.5 million. She also agreed to a forfeiture of $6.5 million.

Related Articles

MORE: Inside 'Real Housewives' star Jen Shah's ongoing legal battle

"At this time Ms. Shah would like to withdraw her plea of not guilty," defense attorney Priya Chaudhry said at the start of Monday's change-of-plea hearing.

Shah told the judge she would not appeal if sentenced to 168 months or fewer. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 28.

"Ms. Shah is a good woman who crossed a line. She accepts full responsibility for her actions and deeply apologizes to all who have been harmed. Ms. Shah is also sorry for disappointing her husband, children, family, friends, and supporters," Chaudhry said in a statement. "Jen pled guilty because she wants to pay her debt to society and put this ordeal behind her and her family."

Shah initially pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering through telemarketing and was scheduled to stand trial beginning next week. On Monday, she pleaded guilty to the first charge, which carries a maximum of 30 years in prison, as part of the agreement with prosecutors.

"In 2012 to March 2021 in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere I agreed with others to commit wire fraud," Shah told Judge Sidney Stein Monday as she read from a prepared statement. "I knew this was wrong. I knew many people were harmed and I'm so sorry."

Jen Shah from "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City."
Chad Kirkland/Bravo

Under questioning from the judge, Shah said her scheme made misrepresentations of the value of the services being sold. They had no value, she said.

"Did you know what you were doing was wrong and illegal?" Stein asked.

"Yes, your honor," Shah replied.

Federal prosecutors have said Shah and her assistant Stuart Smith, who has pleaded guilty, were among those "responsible for orchestrating the broader scheme" and supplied "leads that sustained sales floors." Smith, who also initially pleaded not guilty, changed his plea last November.

According to prosecutors, Shah intentionally didn't put her name on financial records, instead using relatives; used encrypted apps to communicate with co-conspirators; and directed a co-conspirator to lie in a deposition taken by the Federal Trade Commission to conceal her role in the scheme. Federal prosecutors said in court Monday that victims were prepared to testify in a trial about the misrepresentations made at Shah's direction.

Related Articles

MORE: Jennifer Shah of 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' pleads not guilty to fraud

Like many of its counterpart franchises, the "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" is known for portraying the lavish lifestyles of its cast members.

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

The 48-year-old Shah has appeared on both seasons of the Bravo TV show. The second season, which featured her fighting the charges of fraud, ended in March.

ABC News' Arielle Schwartz and Eileen Murphy contributed to this report.

Up Next in News—

Shein and Temu products impacted by tariffs: What to know

May 14, 2025

16-year-old speaks out after escaping man who allegedly stalked, harassed her

April 25, 2025

Trump's tariffs: How top products from China will be impacted

April 10, 2025

How to delete your 23andMe data amid company's bankruptcy

March 28, 2025

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2025 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2025 ABC News