Jen Shah Trial Update: Latest Developments
RHOSLC star Jen Shah is set to stand trial in March for an alleged phone scam. What is the latest on the case against her? Keep reading for all the recent developments.
Jen Shah & assistant arrested in 2021, here are the charges
When The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City debuted in 2020, Jen Shah was the flashiest new Bravolebrity. She dubbed her enormous home in the Utah mountains the “Shah Chalet” and seemed to have a excessive amount of money for a college football coach’s wife.
However, no one questioned where her money came from until her shocking arrest in March of 2021. Along with her assistant, Stuart Smith, Shah is accused of running a massive phone scam.
The rumor that Meredith Marks called the feds on Jen Shah spread like wildfire on Season 2 of RHOSLC. Marks denies the allegation, noting that her co-star’s arrest came after 10 years of a federal investigation.
Both Shah and her assistant were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of obstructing an official proceeding, per People magazine.
At the time, both Shah and Smith pleaded not guilty. But now Jen Shah is the only one still professing her innocence. What happened?
Last co-defendant changes plea to guilty
Stuart Smith was one member of the so-called ‘Shah squad’ to appear on the Bravo show. After initially pleading not guilty, he changed his plea to guilty in late 2021.
During his plea change, he copped to participating in the scam. People reports that he admitted to “knowingly” engaging in the fraud. He has yet to face sentencing and it’s widely thought that he will testify against Jen Shah during her March trial.
However, he won’t be the only one.
Individuals named Cameron Brewster and Chad Allen were to stand trial alongside the RHOSLC star for their alleged role in the scheme. However, Allen changed his plea to guilty in early February 2022.
An ABC News affiliate in Salt Lake City, Utah, reported that Chad Allen will testify against Jen Shah in the upcoming legal proceedings.
Earlier this week, the other Louboutin dropped on the reality star. Attorney Ronald Richards posted on Twitter that Cameron Brewster will also plead guilty to the alleged ponzi scheme, leaving Jen Shah to stand trial alone.
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More InformationRichards was previously involved in the bankruptcy case against RHOBH star Erika Jayne’s estranged husband Tom Girardi.
Shah files new motion involving Bravo show
News of Brewster’s change in plea wasn’t the only recent development in Shah’s legal case. Her lawyers filed a request to keep footage from the Bravo show out of the courtroom.
Page Six reports that the filing calls the footage “hearsay.” Additionally, Shah alleges that scenes of the Bravo show are “highly edited” and lack credibility.
Her lawyers further request that potential jurors answer questions about their knowledge of the Bravo franchise. The judge has yet to rule on the requests. Her previous request to have the case dropped following Hulu’s documentary The Housewife and the Shah Shocker was denied.
Her trial starts on March 22, 2022, in New York City.
RHOSLC reunion trailer: Andy Cohen confronts star over charges
Amid these developments in Shah’s trial, Bravo dropped the explosive Season 2 reunion trailer. The show’s second season wraps up on Sunday, February 20, followed by a three-part reunion. RHOSLC star Mary Cosby skipped the reunion, which likely cost her a spot on the series.
However, the other ladies showed up and brought the drama. Lisa Barlow goes head-to-head with everyone, including the production team. The reality star lashes out over her iconic ‘hot mic’ moment where she called former friend Meredith Marks a “wh*re,” among other insults.
But what fans really want to see is host Andy Cohen put Jen Shah’s feet to the fire regarding the charges against her. He appears to do just that in the reunion trailer. Cohen bluntly asks Coach Shah where he thought his wife’s money was coming from.
Elsewhere in the trailer, Andy Cohen finds it shocking when Jen Shah says she doesn’t know the charges against her.
The three-part reunion kicks off on Sunday, February 27.
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More InformationIs Jen Shah returning for Season 3?
With Mary Cosby’s likely exit and Jennie Nguyen’s firing, fans worry about Jen Shah’s future with the franchise. Bravo has yet to officially renew the show for Season 3.
However, rumors has it that Shah and the other ladies are already be filming for Season 3 of RHOSLC. The new season could potentially feature the outcome of the reality star’s trial. If convicted, she faces 30 years in prison for each charge.
Don’t miss the RHOSLC Season 2 finale on Sunday, February 20th, only on Bravo.
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