REAL Housewives Of Salt Lake City star Jen Shah revealed that her husband, Sharrieff, wanted a “divorce” weeks before her arrest for fraud.
On the premiere episode of the reality series, Jen, 47, confided in pal Lisa Barlow about how she thought her “life was over” after difficult talks with her partner of 26 years.
Jen and Lisa chatted at her home when he admitted that six months ago she almost got a divorce.
She told Lisa: “I thought my entire world was ending. 6 months ago Sharrieff and I almost got a divorce. I thought my whole life was over. He didn’t think he was a good influence in my life and he felt like he was the problem.
“I thought it was just an argument but the next day, a divorce attorney reached out to me. He hired a divorce attorney, I was devastated.
COUPLES THERAPY
“We’ve been married 26 years and this is the first time he has ever said ‘I am leaving you.’
“His final breaking point was the stuff I kept doing, getting angry and getting upset. Now we’re in couple’s therapy. We want to make this work.”
She concluded: “I was like ‘look no one is getting divorced here.’ I’m happier now because I finally faced what was literally killing me. And sometimes it’s okay to not be okay.”
The scene was filmed just weeks before Jen was arrested amid allegations she was involved in a $5million telemarketing scheme.
Jen and and former football player Sharrieff have been married 27 years and share two sons, Sharrieff Jr. and Omar.
Back in March, Jen was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a “telemarketing scheme” and is facing 30 years in prison.
An insider close to the star claimed that the arrest was filmed: “Cameras were rolling but it was so chaotic, I’m not sure exactly what was captured.”
FACES 30 YEARS IN PRISON
While the source said producer “definitely got some footage,” it’s unclear exactly what was captured.
“The cast was getting ready for a group trip to Colorado,” the insider spilled exclusively to The Celeb Report.
Police also arrested her assistant, Stuart Smith, and they were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
TELEMARKETING SCAM
When the arrest was made, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said in a press release obtained by The Celeb Report: “Jennifer Shah, who portrays herself as a wealthy and successful business person on ‘reality’ television, and Stuart Smith, who is portrayed as Shah’s ‘first assistant,’ allegedly generated and sold ‘lead lists’ of innocent individuals for other members of their scheme to repeatedly scam.
“In actual reality and as alleged, the so-called business opportunities pushed on the victims by Shah, Smith, and their co-conspirators were just fraudulent schemes, motivated by greed, to steal victims’ money.
“Now, these defendants face time in prison for their alleged crimes.”
They could each potentially face up to 30 years in prison if found guilty.
Following her being released without bond, Jen has been banned from excessive drinking and using drugs, she can’t use her credit cards, take out excessive amounts of money, and can’t travel outside of Utah until her October hearing.
