HOME / ENTERTAINMENT / TV

'Lock this idiot up': Fans rejoice as feds seek 10-year sentence against 'RHOSLC' alum Jen Shah for fraud

The 'RHOSLC' alum is being targeted by the government for a 10-year sentence because they believe she is the 'most culpable person charged in this case'

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH: According to reports, the US government has asked for Jen Shah to be sentenced to ten years in prison. After pleading guilty to fraud and money laundering charges in July, the 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' star is presently awaiting sentencing.

Jen and her assistant Stuart Smith were arrested in Utah in March 2021 for allegedly organizing a phone scam to swindle individuals over the age of 55. She first professed herself to be innocent until pleading guilty in July. The government has allegedly suggested that she serve 120 months in prison ahead of the hearing on January 6, 2023. Officials submitted a statement on Friday in court records, stating that she "engaged in a years-long, comprehensive effort to hide her continued role in the scheme." According to the government, she also "took a series of increasingly extravagant steps to conceal her criminal conduct from the authorities."

RELATED ARTICLES

'RHOSLC' star Jen Shah refutes Whitney Rose's accusations of giving Heather Gay black eye, fans say 'just own it'

When will Jen Shah's trial begin? 'RHOLSC' star's son writes heartfelt letter to judge ahead of sentencing

Jen, according to the prosecution, made an effort to "conceal her role in the scheme," while being deeply involved in day-to-day activities. According to the documents, Jen texted her coworkers in June 2018 when she was dissatisfied with the quantity of money coming in, saying, "I’m coming in to set appts for these guys tomorrow. Please get my 24-karat gold headset with diamond-encrusted mouthpiece ready. Papi needs money for the weekend and [a co-conspirator] needs baby mama money.”

According to the filings, "For nearly a decade, the defendant was an integral leader of a wide-ranging, nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme that victimized thousands of innocent people. Many of those people were elderly or vulnerable." "Many of those people suffered significant financial hardship and damage. At the defendant’s direction, victims were defrauded over and over again until they had nothing left. She and her co-conspirators persisted in their conduct until the victims’ bank accounts were empty, their credit cards were at their limits, and there was nothing more to take."

According to the documentation, Jen is "the most culpable person charged in this case," and her "belated expressions of remorse ring hollow."

The administration defined a 10-year sentence as 'sufficient,' although it is unclear whether this would be considered. As per the authorities, the Bravo personality and her former assistant, Stuart Smith, ran a US-wide fraud operation since 2012, providing services like website designs that purported to make the administration of victims' businesses more profitable or effective. They were also accused of proposing to sell victims' personal information to other members of a "fraud ring," with many of those targeted being over the age of 55.

Happy about the news regarding Jen's probable sentencing, fans took to social media to share their views with one quipping, "Me when Jen Shah is sentenced to 10 years behind bars." Another person added, "10 years is getting off EASY. I think @TheRealJenShah or ANYONE who commits these crimes should serve at least 1 year PER VICTIM for ruining their lives. Plus one more for punching @heathergay29." One other Twitter user commented, "Clink clink. @TheRealJenShah Lock this idiot up. I’m tired of seeing her on my television screen. The fact that some people actually stan this woman disgusts me." Hoping to see Jen turn herself around, "I hope she acts like she does on T.V. in prison. That's probably the only way she'll learn a lesson."

Demanding maximum sentencing for her, one person tweeted, "I just read the Gov't sentencing position on @TheRealJenShah. Jen Shah ruthlessly scammed victims out of their retirement & life savings PLUS intimidated them into maxing out charge cards. She deserves the maximum sentence." Another person added, "Looks like you will have plenty of time to learn remorse, truth and how NOT to be a thief!!" Happy for the victims, a person wrote, "THE ELDERLY PEOPPE WHO SHE RIPPED OFF WILL GO TO BED WITH A SMILE ON THEIR FACES TONIGHT.. ITS NOT A REALITY TV SHOW ITS THE RULE OF LAW." While another outraged person added, "WHY should this country be at all lenient to Jen Shah, a fraudster who duped thousands of older people out of their retirement savings??????????? SHE DESERVES 20 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!"

'The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' airs Wednesdays at 8 pm ET on Bravo.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.