Andy Cohen expressed his sadness and disbelief after the arrest of Jen Shah.
The reality gatekeeper and ‘Radio Andy’ host returned to his SiriusXM show on Monday – the first time Cohen was on the air again after news of the March 31 arrest of “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star on federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with an alleged scam on telemarketing and conspiracy to commit money laundering, and although Cohen did not voluntarily jump on the topic, it was a caller who asked him to break his silence.
“Oh,” Cohen, 52, exhaled before saying about his disappointment.
“I’m waiting to see how it plays out,” the host told ‘Watch What Happens Live’. “I have nothing to add to what we already know, except that I certainly hope and pray that none of it is true.”
‘REAL HOUSEWOMES’ STAR JEN SHAH SAID THEIR ASSISTANT ‘WILL literally do something’ BEFORE ARRESTING
Shah, 47, and her first assistant, Stuart Smith, 43, pleaded not guilty in a federal court building to one conspiracy to commit telemarketing and one conspiracy to commit money laundering.
During the trial, much of the discussion revolved around the amount of Shah’s bail and the judge presiding over the matter agrees with the government’s request to secure a strict $ 1 million bond through cash. or property is secured – a request that Shah’s lawyers found excessive.
‘REAL HOUSEWOMES’ STAR ERIKA JAYNE, EX TOM GIRARDI, THOUGHT OF SAVED MILLIONS FROM CRASH OVERLOADS
Prosecutors also suggested that Shah hide assets, and that she and Smith control a Shell company that owns at least $ 5 million of the fraud.
“She has not shown a willingness to disclose her assets,” said U.S. Attorney Kiersten Fletcher.
Jen Shah was arrested on charges of federal fraud. (Photo by: Chad Kirkland / Bravo)
In a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York this week, Shah and Smith are accused of victimizing ten or more people over the age of 55 with a telemarketing scheme – a punishment for conspiracy to commit wire fraud commit. in connection with telemarketing carries a maximum sentence of 30 years. Shah’s second conspiracy to commit money laundering carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
Jennifer Shah, who portrays herself as a wealthy and successful businessman on ‘reality television’, and Stuart Smith, who is portrayed as Shah’s ‘first assistant’, allegedly have ‘main lists’ of innocent individuals for other members of their plan generate and sell. to repeatedly defraud, ”Audrey Strauss, a U.S. attorney in Manhattan, said in a statement earlier last week.
‘REAL HOUSEWIFE’ ALUM KARA KEOUGH PREGNANT ONE YEAR AFTER THE DEATH OF NEWBORN SON
Shah is in the lead role of Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” which completed its first season in February.
According to her Bravo bio, Shah is “the queen of her home and her businesses as the CEO of three marketing companies.”
Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live ‘presenter Andy Cohen breaks his silence over’ Federal Housewives of Salt Lake City ‘star Jen Shah’s federal arrest.
(Getty)
During the ‘Housewives’ reunion, the Bravo bigwig asked Shah about her businesses.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
“My background has been in direct marketing for about 20 years, so our company advertises,” she said at the time. “We have a platform that helps people reach customers, so if you shop online or on the Internet, and something appears, we have the algorithm behind why you get the ad.”
Shah maintained that her businesses needed enough moving pieces to keep going, and said of her multiple assistants, “I need a lot of help, you know? They all do different things,” Shah explained.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“I run a lot of different businesses and businesses, and a lot of them have different roles in the businesses.”
The Bravo reality star faces a maximum of 50 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
Fox News’ Marta Dhanis, Melissa Roberto and The Associated Press contributed to this report.