Feds 'going after' Jen Shah’s earnings as she fails to pay any of the $6.7M restitution to victims
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: The federal government is "going after" Jen Shah’s earnings from the time she appeared on 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' from 2020 to 2023. They have claimed she and her co-defendants have failed to pay any of the $6.7 million restitution they were supposed to, to the victims of their telemarketing fraud scheme. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have asked a judge to sign off on an order to garnish 25% of Shah's Bravolebrity’s disposable earnings from Shed Media, Inc, which is the company that owns the Bravo show.
As per the order, the earnings should continuously be paid to the court clerk until Shah is released from prison on August 30, 2028, New York Post reported. She was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison in January in a 10-year scheme that spans six states. In these six states, Shah and others offered elderly people several bogus business services and took the cash, leaving victims with "worthless" services.
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Prosecutors seek Jen Shah's assets
The media company owed Shah $34,500 as of February, court papers say. This amount is her salary for one episode of the reality show. $5,128 of the amount is supposed to be garnished by the court for the restitution.
Prosecutors in March sought to seize two pieces of Shah's jewelry to cover a separate forfeiture fee of $6.5 million to repay her gains. The feds, however, were unable to find all the assets she had bought with swindled cash. They tracked down a diamond-encrusted pendant necklace and an 18-karat rose gold and diamond ring.
Jen Shah is teaching her squad how to read and write
Shah pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in July 2022 and faces up to 30 years. Her manager revealed that she is teaching some of her squad how to read and write, according to Daily Mail. She is also working with the prison's educational department and library. She is reportedly making strong friendships and keeping other prisoners' morale up.
A rep for Shah said she is "committed" to making amends with her victims. "I have spoken with my client Jen Shah over the phone this week — she is doing well and remains committed to making her victims whole," the rep said, according to People. "She has initiated her payments towards restitution, and we hope to have her home as soon as possible so that she may resume life with her family and work, putting this chapter of her life behind her."