Heather Gay theorized why Jen Shah’s husband Sharrieff Shah Sr. backed her last-minute plea reversal as the Season 3 reunion of “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” wrapped Wednesday night.
“For the financial strain, it was an uphill battle,” the 40-year-old author of “Bad Mormon” told host Andy Cohen.
She said, “And I have to assume it wasn’t something he thought was worth taking a chance on.” “A smoking gun, if you will.”
Jen, age 49, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison on January 6 for coordinating a statewide telemarketing scheme that mostly targeted vulnerable seniors.
The convicted fraudster, who pleaded guilty in July 2022 after months of protesting her innocence, will begin serving her term in a Texas federal jail on February 17.
During the “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” reunion, Heather Gay (right) discussed Jen Shah’s abrupt change of heart on her guilty plea.
Lisa Barlow stated during the reunion that she was aware of the “smoking gun” that incriminated Jen.
“It was a text message or something that she sent to Stu that incriminated her,” the 48-year-old CEO of Vida Tequila stated, referring to Jen’s former assistant and alleged collaborator, Stuart Smith.
Gay then said, “I don’t know the specifics, but I assume it was some type of smoking gun demonstrating knowledge.”
Shah was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for coordinating a statewide telemarketing campaign that mostly targeted elderly individuals who were vulnerable.
Smith, who had participated in numerous “RHOSLC” sequences alongside Jen, pled guilty to three fraud-related crimes in November 2021. Similar to his old boss, he had already entered a not-guilty plea.
The second and final segment of the most recent “Salt Lake City” reunion contained charges that Jen and Sharrieff sought donations from their friends to pay their increasing legal expenses.
“I did not give them money, but I know others on this couch did,” Gay alleged, adding that cast member Angie Harrington “gave [the Shahs] money.”
Gay stated that she will support Jen while she is incarcerated, despite the fact that she did not monetarily assist Jen.
“She admitted to committing fraud, she’s going to prison, and she’s paying $15 million in restitution, so I don’t think it’s productive for me to be mean or angry with her,” she explained.
And now that we’ve come this far together, I won’t abandon her.
Shah did not attend the Season 3 reunion of “RHOSLC.”
Gay reaffirmed this during an appearance on Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” podcast in September 2022.
“I would never pass up an opportunity to serve anyone, especially Jen and her family,” she said.
»Heather Gay alleges a “smoking gun” led to Jen Shah’s guilty plea on “RHOSLC.”«