Heather Gay has always been a ride or die for Jen Shah. But in a strange change in allegiance, Meredith Marks also got on the Shah train to support her while she dealt with her legal issues. The threesome were in New York City supporting Jen for her upcoming trial on charges of running a telemarketing scheme. And Real Housewives of Salt Lake City cameras were filming as the group braced themselves for her trial.
But in a shocking turn of events, Jen pled guilty to one charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. As reported by Page Six, Heather and Meredith ended up being blindsided by the news. And insider revealed that both Heather and Meredith were informed of the legal strategy just moments before it came out. Jen reportedly called Heather and Meredith before she entered the courtroom to tell them.
The source added that Jen “wanted people around her” to support her for the trial. Just a few days prior, Meredith took to her Instagram Stories to reinforce her loyalty to Jen. She wrote, “In the US, one has a right to a trial and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.” Good things IG Stories expire because that certainly didn’t age well.
Meredith and Heather’s rep didn’t respond to Page Six for comment. Castmates Whitney Rose and Lisa Barlow were also “shocked” by the news, according to an insider. The source shared, “Everyone was surprised.” Especially because Jen “continually” told her castmates that she was “innocent and that she was going to fight.” The same insider claimed that Jen told friends the “reason people plead [guilty] is because they’re afraid and they can’t afford it, but that she can afford it and she was was going to fight for her innocence.”
In exchange for Jen’s plea, the US attorney agreed to drop the additional charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Jen’s attorney, Priya Chaudhry, previously told Page Six that she pled guilty last minute because she “wants to pay her debt to society and put this ordeal behind her and her family.”
But the source claimed that Jen felt her back was up against the wall. Her team saw the evidence against her and who would be testifying. Said the insider, “She knew she had to plead guilty because she was going to be guilty anyway and didn’t want to drag her mom, her husband, her kids, and everybody into it.” Jen has two adult sons with husband Sharrieff Shah.
With her guilty plea, Jen faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. But the plea agreement requested 11 to 14 years and up to $9.5 million in restitution. Jen’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 28th of this year.
Despite Jen’s admission of guilt, it was recently reported that Jen will continue to film season three of RHOSLC.
TELL US – DO YOU BELIEVE THAT MEREDITH AND HEATHER WERE TOLD AT THE LAST MINUTE? WHEN DO YOU THINK JEN REALLY DECIDED TO CHANGE HER PLEA? WILL HER CASTMATES CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HER?
[Photo Credit: Bravo]