«The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City» star Jen Shah has been ordered to participate in a mental health treatment program as part of her probation following her release from prison.
Shah, 49, was sentenced to 78 months in prison after she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Federal prosecutors said Shah was the leader of a «nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme» that victimized thousands of people.
He was ordered to turn himself in to the Federal Bureau of Prisons on February 17, according to a ruling filed last week in the United States Court for the Southern District of New York.
Shah will undergo five years of supervised release, which will include mental health treatment approved by the US Probation Office.
«You must continue to take any prescribed medication unless directed otherwise by your health care provider,» the order states. «You must contribute to the cost of services rendered based on your ability to pay and the availability of third-party payments.»
Shah has said that she suffered from depression and took antidepressant medication during episodes of «The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.» In a recent episode, Shah revealed to her co-stars that she had attempted suicide after being charged in the federal case.
Shah said she had locked herself in a bathroom and her husband broke down the door. She said that she was hospitalized for more than two days.
In a court statement filed in December, Shah pleaded for leniency, saying his actions were partly due to «some painful personal experiences I was going through in my life,» including the deaths of his father and grandmother.
His lawyers also submitted a memorandum to the court in December asking for a 36-month sentence, outlining his commitments to his children and the community. She pointed to her work with a mental health organization that works within the Polynesian community.
«Given her own experience, Jen deeply empathizes with anyone who is marginalized, fears rejection, and struggles with mental health issues,» the memo reads.
But victims of the fraud scheme revealed the mental health toll Shah’s actions inflicted on them with impact statements used to assess his sentencing. One woman, a Canadian who lost more than $100,000, said she contemplated suicide after financial stress affected her marriage and her ability to care for her ailing father.
«The burden you have caused me is overwhelming, I cannot even put into words the amount of anguish you have caused,» that victim wrote Shah in her impact statement.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.