Jen Shah’s legal woes will continue.
On Friday, a federal judge deniedher motion to dismiss the fraud chargesagainst her in light of the recent Hulu documentary about her ongoing legal problems. Last week, the 48-year-oldReal Housewives of Salt Lake Citystar’s attorneys filed the motion claiming the documentary is “reprehensible” and will “severely jeopardize” her right to a fair trial.
An attorney for Shah did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
In March, Shah and her assistant Stuart Smithwere arrested and chargedwith one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing through which they allegedly victimized 10 or more persons over the age of 55.
The pairpleaded not guiltyduring an arraignment in April, but in late November, Smith, 43,changed his plea to guiltyand awaits a sentencing hearing on March 3. He faces a maximum of 70 years in prison, the presiding judge said during the plea hearing.
Meanwhile, Shah hasmaintained her innocence.
Jen Shah/Instagram
In Hulu’s recent documentary,The Housewife & the Shah Shocker,various legal experts, proclaimed Bravo superfans, family and friends of Shah and purported telemarketing scam victims spoke out about the case.
In a Nov. 30 filing, Shah’s attorney argued that the documentary’s interviews with two agents of Homeland Security Investigations provided information about her case that was not publicly available, also including their opinions on the “lavish lifestyle” of “fraudsters” in an attempt to “poison the jury pool.”
“Their behavior has destroyed any chance that Ms. Shah will have a fair trial with an impartial jury,” her attorney said of the Hulu documentary in the previous motion to the judge.
On Friday, Judge Stein concluded that the HSI agents' statements would not “interfere with [Shah’s] fair trial or otherwise prejudice the due administration of justice.”
source: people.com
