Jen Shah, formerly of “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” is set for an early release from prison. She is expected to return home in time for the holidays.
Shah will be freed on December 10, having served approximately two and a half years of her six-and-a-half-year sentence. This news was initially reported by People on Friday, November 21.
Her representative, Chris Giovanni, expressed gratitude for the decision by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Giovanni noted that Shah would be able to reunite with her family for the holidays, calling it “a gift that she doesn’t take for granted.”
Giovanni also shared that the 52-year-old is “in a very positive and hopeful mental space.” Her focus is now on her family and building a more stable life.
Shah has “reflected a lot and truly grown” during her time incarcerated, according to her representative. She is reportedly not the same woman she was before and understands the seriousness of her past mistakes.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons declined to comment on Shah’s release plans when contacted by People.
Shah’s legal troubles began in March 2021 when she was arrested alongside her then-assistant Stuart Smith. They were implicated in a nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme targeting victims over 55 years old.
Initially, Shah pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, she later changed her plea to guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in July 2022.
During her guilty plea, Shah stated, “Between 2012 and March 2021, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, I agreed with others to commit wire fraud.” She added, “I knew this was wrong. I knew that many people were harmed and I am very sorry.”
Us Weekly confirmed her six-and-a-half-year prison sentence in January 2023. Shah reported to the Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas, the following month.
Her sentence has been reduced multiple times throughout her incarceration. Prior to this recent announcement, Shah was expected to remain in prison until September 19, 2026.
Shah has kept fans updated through journal entries posted on her website. In May, she shared that she was “doing ‘shahmazing'” and in “very good spirits.”
Her representative also commented in a December 2023 statement that Shah was “working on her self-development and focused on her positive rehabilitation process.” She was reportedly preparing for a holiday beauty presentation within the prison.