«Real Housewives» star Jen Shah’s prison sentence has been reduced by a year, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate database.
Shah, 49, who reported to the Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas, in February, is now scheduled to be released in August 2028. She was ordered in January by a federal judge to serve 6 1/2 years in prison for running a scheme nationwide telemarketing aimed at seniors. victims
“I spoke to my client Jen Shah on the phone this week; she is doing well and she remains committed to the recovery of her victims,» Shah’s manager, Chris Giovanni, said in a statement. «She has initiated her restitution payments, and we hope to have her home as soon as possible so that she can resume her life with her family and her work, leaving behind this chapter of her life.» .
Shah and his «first assistant», Stuart Smith, were charged in March 2021 with perpetrating a wire fraud and money laundering scheme that «generated and sold contact lists» of innocent people so that other members of his scheme » ripped off» repeatedly from 2012 to 2021. , the the united states attorney’s office saying.
Shah initially pleaded not guilty in April 2021, but in July, in a dramatic courtroom turnaround a week before his trial was set to begin, he pleaded guilty to the wire fraud charge. As part of the plea agreement, the money laundering charge was dismissed and Shah agreed to lose $6.5 million, 30 luxury items and 78 counterfeit luxury items and pay about $6.6 million in restitution.
At the time of sentencing, Shah said he had «accepted that I have gone against these core values and am deeply sorry for what I did,» adding that he wanted to «apologize to all the victims and families, and I take full responsibility.» . for the damage I caused and will pay full restitution to all victims.»
Shah’s lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, filed a motion on Friday asking to retire as a lawyer, according to court documents.
“ChaudhryLaw seeks to withdraw as counsel for the defendant because the client has failed to pay the fees and expenses owed to the firm and has therefore breached its contract with the firm,” the documents state.
Shah entered into a legal agreement with ChaudhryLaw in July 2021. At the time of Chaudhry’s filing, part of the fee «remains outstanding» and Shah owes the expenses of «digital hosting of discovery with a third-party provider,» according to court documents. . .
Chaudhry said in the documents that his firm had made several attempts to collect outstanding fees and expenses, including six times since July.
«Defendant and her husband repeatedly promised to pay these outstanding amounts, and the firm continued to provide services, relying on defendant’s written commitment and her husband’s promises,» according to court documents.
ChaudhryLaw, according to the documents, sent a letter to Shah at the Bryan Federal Prison Camp earlier this month notifying her that she is «obligated to make payment pursuant to the Fee Agreement» and informing her of her «intent» to file the motion. . The judge has yet to rule on Chaudhry’s request.
Chaudhry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Before Shah appeared in prison in February, Chaudhry said in a statement that «Jen Shah’s resolve to make his victims whole and change his life is unwavering.»
“She is committed to serving her sentence with courage and purpose, driven by her desire to make amends for the harm she has caused and to help others in her new community,” Chaudhry added.