"We are here for one reason: the innocent people who have suffered," defense lawyer Priya Chaudhry told the court. Shah's defense immediately acknowledged the pain the "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" star has caused to victims. She added: "I recognize that some of you lost hundreds and others lost thousands and I promise to repay." "I want to apologize to all the victims and families and I take full responsibility for the harm I caused and will pay full restitution to all of the victims." "I have to come to terms that I have gone against these core values and I am deeply sorry for what I have done," Shah continued. mutual respect, fulfillment of obligations, humility and generosity, loyalty and respect." She thanked her family for her upbringing, which she said was "rooted in. "I am Jennifer Shah … daughter of immigrants." "I would like to take this opportunity to speak about who I actually am," she said. Shah broke down in tears during her address to the court. "Most people identify me with my public persona," she said. NBCUniversal is the parent company of both Bravo and NBC News.īefore she was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison, Shah tearfully told the court she was "deeply sorry" for her crimes and wanted to "apologize to all the victims."ĭefendants said she's not the "carefully created and edited" character fans see weekly on the "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City." Reps for "Housewives" carrier Bravo and Andy Cohen, executive producer of the franchise, declined comment on Shah's sentencing on Friday. The defendants "victimized thousands of innocent people" by selling them "so-called 'business services' in connection with the victims’ purported online businesses," the government said. Shah was an "integral leader" of the scam that ran from "at least 2012 until her arrest in March" last year, the government said. Shah was also ordered to forfeit $6.5 million, make restitution of $6.64 million, surrender 30 luxury items, 78 counterfeit luxury items and be subject to five years of supervised release once she gets out. "These individuals were lured in by false promises of financial security, but in reality, Shah and her co-conspirators defrauded them out of their savings and left them with nothing to show for it." “With today’s sentence, Jennifer Shah finally faces the consequences of the many years she spent targeting vulnerable, elderly victims," Williams said in a statement. Attorney Damian Williams hailed the 6 1/2-year sentence meted out to Shah, even if the term was less than the 120 months sought by prosecutors. "I thought she was going to get way, way more time."ĭavid K. “If feels good to know people with high power cant get away with shady business practices," Ramella said. Ramella had the day off from work and said it was "interesting seeing the process play out" in person. "I think the court sympathized with her because she was a mother and a wife." "I thought her sentence was going to be way higher, closer to 10 years," said Payehouse, 32. New York City resident Carolyn Ramella and Minnesotan Lauren Payehouse both said Shah got off light. "There’s always a new real housewife and a real housewife getting in trouble." It was less than I expected," said "Housewives" fan and Long Island resident Danielle Infanger, who doesn't expect Shah to be the last reality TV star to run afoul with the law. Fans from as far away as Minnesota and Arkansas joined "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" viewers from New York City to witness Shah's sentencing in federal court Friday.
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