(Daily Mail) Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’s Jen Shah has today pleaded guilty to federal charges of organizing a $5million telemarketing scam which preyed on hundreds of elderly people.
The star, 48, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, with the US attorney dropping her second count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The US attorney’s office says Shah faces the maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, but NBC Connecticut reports that a plea deal will actually see her serve a maximum of 14 years.
As part of her guilty plea, the reality star also agreed to forfeit $6.5 million and to pay restitution up to $9.5 million.
Addressing the court, the reality star said that she ‘knew it was wrong’ and that she was ‘so sorry’ for the ‘many people’ who were harmed.
Shah admitted that she ‘agreed with others to commit with wire fraud’ and ‘knew it misled’ victims, over 10 of whom were over the age of 55.
Shah added there was a ‘misrepresentation of the product… regarding value of the service,’ noting it ‘had little to no value.’
When asked by US District Judge Stein if she knew what she was doing was wrong and illegal, Shah replied, ‘Yes, your honor.’
Before pleading guilty the star was facing up to 50 years behind bars if she went ahead with her Manhattan trial, which was scheduled to begin on July 18.
Shah is accused of defrauding hundreds of elderly people across the country in a wide-spread telemarketing scheme, according to documents seen by Page Six.
She was charged in March last year, along with her assistant Stuart Smith who has also pleaded guilty.
The Bravo star initially pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering through telemarketing.
The US attorney’s office say that Shah used third parties’ names in an attempt to distance herself from the crimes.
She used and directed others to use encrypted messaging applications to communicate with other Participants and made numerous cash withdrawals structured to avoid currency transaction reporting requirements.
DailyMail.com has contacted Shah’s attorney for a comment.
During the reunion show in March this year, Shah sobbed as she declared that she was ‘fighting’ the charges.
