Who is Jen Shah? ‘Real Housewives’ star released early from prison after serving 33 months in telemarketing fraud

Former reality TV show star Jen Shah Shah was reportedly released from prison on Wednesday, 10 December, after serving nearly three years behind bars for her role in a long-running telemarketing fraud scheme.

The 52-year-old was released from the Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas in the early hours of Wednesday, reported PEOPLE.

Who is Jen Shah?

Best known for being a former cast member of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, Jen Shah joined the series in its first season, which premiered in November 2020.

Shah, along with her assistant Stuart Smith, was arrested in March 2021 for allegedly targeting thousands of Americans, including the elderly in a nationwide fraud scheme that had been reportedly running since 2012.

The reality TV star pled guilty and was imprisoned on 17 February 2023.

She served 2 years, 9 months, and 23 days in prison, far shorter than the original six-and-a-half-year sentence.

Why was Jen Shah released early?

Earlier in November, it had been reported that the Real Housewives star would be let out early, with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) approving a 10 December release from prison, ahead of festive holidays.

At the time, her manager Chris Giovanni had said, “It's a gift she doesn't take for granted.”

Giovanni added that Shah had done a lot of reflecting and had grown during her time in prison.

“She understands the seriousness of the mistakes she made and is excited to put this chapter behind her so that she can show everyone the woman she's worked hard to become,” Shah's manager had explained.

During her sentencing in January 2023, Shah had said, “I am sorry. My actions have hurt innocent people. I want to apologize by saying, I am doing all I can to earn the funds to pay restitution.”

The reality TV star has been asked to pay $6.5 million in restitution.

Despite receiving a six-and-a-half-year-long sentence, Shah's jail term was reduced several times reported PEOPLE, a decision that the BOP attributed to her good behaviour, participation in prison programmes, and the steps taken by her to begin paying restitution to victims of fraud.