Jen Shah is given strict limits following her arrest for money laundering and wire fraud

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Jen Shah

Jen Shah, one of the stars of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City has been given strict rules following her arrest on Wednesday, Apr. 01, 2021. The reality star and her assistant Stuart Smith were arrested on Tuesday while filming the reality show in Vail, Colorado.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Shah and Smith have been “charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing through which they victimized 10 or more persons over the age of 55, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.”

Jen Shah The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City - Season 1
Episode 101 — Pictured: (l-r) Jen Shah, Mary Cosby — (Photo by: Fred Hayes/Bravo)

They allegedly participated in a “Business Opportunity Scheme” from 2012 to March 2021 that “defrauded hundreds of victims.”

TMZ reports:

Shah is banned from traveling outside of Utah without permission, had to forfeit her passport so she can’t leave the U.S. and she can’t use her credit cards without prior permission either.

In addition, she’s prohibited from transferring any assets worth more than $10k, and of course … can’t engage in any telemarketing activities while out on bond.

Who is Stuart Smith?

Stuart Smith, 43, who has appeared on the popular Bravo reality series alongside Shah as her “first assistant.” Smith of Lehi, Utah, was also arrested.

Smith came up in conversation earlier this year when the reality star spoke about her businesses with SiriusXM’s Michelle Collins.

In a Jan. 2021 interview, Shah explained that she had eight assistants at the time.

“It takes a lot. Well, okay. So I have three marketing companies and then we have the fashion company, the beauty company, the lashes,” she explained.

Jen Shah The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City - Season 1
Pictured: Jen Shah — (Photo by: Chad Kirkland/Bravo)

The star added, however, that she has a “disclaimer” when it comes to some of her assistants.

“These people are also doing business things too, but because they’re helping me with admin assistant type stuff, that’s why they’re assistants,” she said. “But I have people that have regular job titles that worked for me.”

Jen Shah The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City - Season 1
“Sinners in the City” Episode 112 — Pictured: Jen Shah — (Photo by: Gabe Ginsberg/Bravo)

When asked whether an assistant has ever turned down a task she asked them to do, Shah said, “Oh no, they do it.”

“Yeah. Especially Stuart [Smith] … Stuart would literally do anything, anything. Some assistants I won’t ask to do certain things, you know?” said the reality television personality. “One of them is just, she’s just strictly virtual. So, of course, I’m not asking her to do [certain things] … But, like, Stuart is all in for, like, crazy stuff.”

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The Shah Chalet is a rental

Like so many aspects of the Real Housewives franchises, a number of the housewives rent more glamorous homes for their appearances on the show. Jen Shah is one of those housewives.

Page Six reports that Shah’s $3.9 million Salt Lake City rental she grandly passed off as the “SHAH SKI CHALET” actually never belonged to Shah, The Post has learned.

Instead the 9,420-square-foot home featured on the show is owned by the Texas-based real-estate rental company, Univesco Inc., which is under the limited liability company RJW Capital Investors.

Jen Shah The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City - Season 1
“Chilly Reception” Episode 113 — Pictured: (l-r) Whitney Rose, Jen Shah — (Photo by: Fred Hayes/Bravo)

Property records discovered by The Post reveal Univesco Inc. has owned the home since 2014.

Steven Frey of Univesco told The Post she had no idea that Shah had been hyping the property as her own on the show. A separate spokesperson handling their Utah properties exclusively is expected to provide more details at a later time.


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