Teresa Giudice’s household lawyer, James Leonard Jr., is lending some recommendation to “The Actual Housewives of Salt Lake Metropolis” star Jen Shah following her 78-month jail sentence for a telemarketing scheme that focused the aged.
Shah was sentenced on Friday to six.5 years in jail together with a supervised launch of 5 years after pleading responsible to committing wire fraud.
“I’ve to consider that there’s one other aspect to Ms. Shah, one which drastically differs from the persona proven on tv and the person accused of committing crimes and who’s now heading to jail,” Leonard instructed Fox Information Digital following the truth TV star’s sentencing.
He continued: “If I have been giving Ms. Shah any recommendation, it might be to work on practising humility and dwelling the remainder of her life serving to others to keep away from the pitfalls that precipitated her demise.”
JEN SHAH SENTENCED TO 78 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR HER ROLE IN NATIONWIDE TELEMARKETING FRAUD SCAM
Leonard, who isn’t part of Shah’s authorized staff, has labored on quite a few high-profile circumstances through the years and represented a number of reality TV stars, together with Giudice of “The Actual Housewives of New Jersey” fame. In 2016, Giudice and her then-husband Joe Giudice additionally pleaded responsible in their very own fraud case and served time.
Jen Shah was sentenced Friday to 78 months in jail in a New York courtroom.
(Getty Photographs)
Shah was sentenced earlier than U.S. District Court Choose Sidney Stein in New York. After a couple of 90-minute sentencing listening to, Choose Stein dominated she should additionally forfeit $6.5 million and pay greater than $6.6 million in restitution.
Shah was ordered to report back to jail by Feb. 17.
Choose Stein famous he was not solely sentencing her beneath the probation advice (135-168 months), but additionally beneath what the federal government had really helpful (110 months).
Nonetheless, he mentioned he believed the sentence mirrored “the seriousness of the crime” and that it was sufficient punishment to discourage a reoccurrence and deter others from committing the identical sort of crime.
The choose mentioned Shah appeared to have regret, but additionally famous that he would not know “if she really appreciates the injury” she has precipitated to the victims.
Shah was ordered to report back to jail by Feb. 17.
(AP Photographs)
Teresa Giudice’s household lawyer, James J. Leonard, Jr., seen right here with Giudice, gave recommendation to Shah following her sentencing.
(Paul Zimmerman/WireImage)
Shifting ahead, Leonard mentioned that Shah’s “greatest problem” would be the “separation from her household and the lack of her freedom, however so far as precise issues in jail, she can be effective so long as she reminds humble and retains to herself.”
“If she acts like she is portrayed on TV, which I believe she received’t, issues could be a little bit harder,” he cautioned.
In courtroom, Shah spoke earlier than the choose whereas breaking down in tears at instances, particularly when apologizing to her household, who was in attendance. She acknowledged the “disgrace, ache and tears” she has precipitated her husband and sons.
“I’ve failed and disillusioned you,” she mentioned of her husband, College of Utah assistant soccer coach Sharrieff Shah, and their two sons, Sharrieff Jr. and Omar.
Jennifer Shah’s husband Sharrieff Shah, left, leaves federal courtroom in New York on Friday.
(AP Photographs)
Leonard famous to Fox Information Digital that though it’s “clearly a troublesome day” for Shah and her household, he emphasised that she might have obtained a a lot harsher sentencing.
“It’s clearly a troublesome day for Ms. Shah and her household, however given her potential publicity of as much as 14 years in jail with the federal government aggressively in search of not less than 10, for somebody who’s high-profile to obtain a sentence of 6.5 years means her authorized staff did a tremendous job of humanizing her to the choose and have been persuasive of their arguments in search of a downward departure,” he mentioned.
“The sentence signifies that Ms. Shah will possible be launched from the custodial portion of her sentence in a little bit beneath 5 years,” Leonard added.
Shah appeared to have a severe demeanor and regarded tense forward of her sentencing on Friday.
(AP, File)
On Friday, Shah appeared to have a severe demeanor and regarded tense forward of her sentencing. She regarded behind at her husband, who was seated within the gallery, briefly earlier than the sentencing began.
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The Justice Division initially requested a decade behind bars for the “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star. Her authorized staff requested a three-year sentence, beforehand calling Shah “an distinctive mom and an excellent girl who has already been punished extensively on account of the sins of her previous.”
She initially confronted as much as 50 years in jail.
Shah initially pled not responsible to the fees in 2021. One 12 months later, she entered a responsible plea as a part of an settlement by which the cash laundering cost was dropped.
(Bravo)
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Shah initially pled not responsible to the fees in 2021. One 12 months later, she entered a guilty plea as a part of an settlement by which the cash laundering cost was dropped. She agreed to forfeit $6.5 million and in addition pay restitution as much as $9.5 million.
The case was investigated by Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) New York’s El Dorado Process Power with assist from HSI Salt Lake.
Fox Information Digital’s Tracy Wright and Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report.
