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The "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" favorite, Jen Shah, was just sentenced to 6.5 years by a Manhattan federal court for telemarketing schemes. Shah pled guilty to wire fraud, and argued for a sentence more lenient, as she was "sucked into the schemes by 'unsavory fraudsters'", describing her co-defendants. Shah's attorney requested the prison sentence be three years, and prosecutors pushed for a ten year sentence. Judge Stein decided on a moderate 6.5 years, telling Shah's attorney, Priya Chaundhry, "She was too important. She was a leader of this conspiracy. So the fact that she never talked to a victim actually cuts against you."

After the sentencing hearing, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, said "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," Williams added. "This conviction and sentence demonstrate once again that we will continue to vigorously protect victims of financial fraud and hold accountable those who engage in fraudulent schemes." Williams also said that the sentence is a mere consequence of Shah "draining the ban accounts of vulnerable, elderly victims."

In her own statement, Jen Shah said tearfully, "My actions have hurt innocent people. I am sincerely remorseful and so sorry for the agony and financial loss that each of you have endured, and I promise to repay every cent." Shah's attorney says that they both have faith in the justice system and that the victims would be repaid.

In addition to Shah's sentencing hearing, Judge Stein also held hearing for Shah's co-defendants. A former sales floor director, Anthony Cheedie, received a 6 month sentence, and telemarketer, Joseph Chirico will receive credit for his time served.

The case is U.S. v. Cheedie et al., case number 1:19-cr-00833, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The government is represented by Kiersten A. Fletcher, Robert B. Sobelman and Sheb Swett of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

Shah is represented by Priya Chaudhry, Seth J. Zuckerman and Beth Farber of ChaudhryLaw PLLC.