RHOSLC: Meredith & Heather Reportedly Blindsided By Jen's Guilty Plea

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Heather Gay, Meredith Marks, and other The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City stars were shocked by Jen Shah's guilty plea. Jen and her assistant, Stuart Smith, were originally arrested in 2021 in Utah during the season two production of the Salt Lake City Real Housewives franchise show. They were arrested for their alleged roles in a long-running telemarketing scheme. The ladies were later charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Since their initial arrest in March 2021, Jen and her assistant's fraud case continued to progress in court, but the women maintained their innocence. They pleaded not guilty in April 2021, but Stuart later gave up, confessing to the crime last November. Jen, on the other hand, continued to maintain her innocence. She even managed to gain the trust of some of her cast mates. Meredith showed her allegiance just before Jen's latest hearing, posting on social media that in the US, one has a right to a trial and is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Reports also showed that Heather and Meredith had been in New York ahead of the pre-trial hearing to support Jen.

Related: RHOSLC: What Jen Shah Could Face During Her Trial

However, the Beauty Lab and Laser owner and jewelry designer received a big blow as Jen wasn't in New York to fight for her innocence. On July 11, Jen, who shares two sons, Sharrieff Jr., 28, and Omar, 19, with husband Sharrieff Shah Sr., blindsided her co-stars, pleading to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing. A source told Page Six that Heather and Meredith were notified of Jen's new decision just before it was made official. Another report showed that