‘Real Housewives’ alum Jen Shah admits she ‘was wrong’ in first interview since prison release

Former “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Jen Shah is taking responsibility in her first interview since her December release from federal prison.

“I was wrong,” Shah told People Magazine in an interview released on Tuesday. “I made wrong decisions. I should have done things differently. I should have been more diligent. And I’m deeply remorseful and sorry for my actions and for my part. I take full responsibility.”

Shah, 52, was released in December from Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas, more than four years early from her 6½-year prison sentence in 2023. She served alongside other famous inmates, disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and Ghislaine Maxwell.

The former reality star was arrested by the FBI in March 2021 —while cameras were rolling for the Bravo series — on charges in connection with allegedly running a nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme that preyed on the elderly.

While filming the show, Shah insisted on her innocence, saying “the only thing I’m guilty of is being Shah-mazing” in the opening credits for the show’s second season.

In the weeks leading to her trial date, when her legal team received a trove of evidence from prosecutors, Shah told People Magazine that things changed.

“It was like a train hit,” she said. “That was the first time I saw all of it — the communications, the interviews, the witnesses.”

“I saw for the first time that there were people who were hurt. That there were actual victims as a result of this conspiracy,” she added. “I had never seen anything with my own eyes. That changed things for me.”

Shah pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with the scheme in 2022 and was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison the following year.

She served time in a minimum-security all-women’s federal prison camp that housed inmates convicted of nonviolent offenses and white-collar crimes in dormitory-style quarters.

“When I walked in, it took my breath away,” Shah said through tears. “You hear people say it’s ‘Camp Cupcake’ — it’s not. It’s a prison. I just thought, ‘This cannot be where I’m going to be every day.'”

Shah was also ordered in 2023 to forfeit $6,500,000 and dozens of luxury items as part of restitution. She told People she is now working to pay off her restitution.

“I’m sorry,” she told People. “I’m accepting responsibility, and I’ve made it my mission to make sure that people are paid back.”

The mother of two is among a long list of Bravo stars accused of criminality.

In 2014, “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Teresa Giudice and her husband, Joe Giudice, were sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud charges.

“Real Housewives of Potomac” star Karen Huger — who is known by fans as the “Grand Dame” — served a one-year sentence at a Maryland prison for drunk driving. She was released from prison in September.

Perhaps the most notorious crime committed by a Bravo star was committed by Tom Girardi, the husband of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Erika Jayne. Girardi was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for embezzling millions of dollars from former clients. His victims included families of the 189 people who died in the 2018 Lion Air crash.

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DOCUMENTED REFERENCES

Exploring Documented Records

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Browse documented Amazon order records archive

Browse the structured archive of documented order records

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