As I write this post, I note there is an ugly ongoing court case involving two movie stars and their abusive relationship; the former blond-blue-eyed celebrity CEO of Theranos is about to get sentenced; incarcerations have recently rained down upon those involved in the “Varsity Blues” scandal and Jen Shah, a co-defendant in a telemarketing scam was just denied a reduced sentence.
Our society, enamored with celebrity and status has been learning an important lesson: the legal system has burned out on privilege. As an ethics keynote speaker and ethics consultant, I applaud this seismic, ethical shift – and so should you.
Jen Shah
For the most part, I tend to avoid and disregard Reality TV. The reason is somewhat ethical. Knowing folks in television as I do, I know that most of “Reality TV” is faked. Sorry, but they stuff “ringer merchandise” in those storage lockers, create on-air arguments to spice up otherwise dull programming and generate construction nightmares out of minor inconveniences.
In 2021, Reality TV “celebrity” Jen Shah was arrested as part of an investigation after it was alleged, she committed wire fraud and money laundering as part of a scam artists that preyed on the elderly. Her trial, conveniently pushed to July 2022, after the final filming of the last season of “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” is now looming.
It is alleged that Shah’s alleged involvement in the scheme went back at least a decade before she was indicted. As each of the many defendants faces adjudication, they are wrangling to stay out of jail. One individual, recently sentenced to six years in prison, fought the sentencing claiming medical reasons as a mitigating factor. The judge struck it down. In fact, the judge had been lenient in sentencing.
Now to Jen Shah. Both Jen Shah and “her assistant,” are also co-defendants. She has maintained her innocence. In a rather interesting piece of posturing, she added on television:
“And I will fight for every person out there that can’t fight for themselves because they don’t have the resources or the means, so they don’t fight. I will fight because No. 1, I’m innocent and No. 2, I’m going to f—king represent every other person out there that can’t fight and hasn’t been able to.”
It is a nice piece of theatrics. An over-the-top piece of bravado. The 48-year-old Shah faces up to 50 years in jail and so she is playing with a lot of fire. When she was arrested in 2021, it was alleged that she and her assistant fleeced hundreds of elderly individuals for more than 10 years. Her assistant took a plea deal and already admitted his guilt.
Reality hits the bitter road
This scam is far more than a simple case of a minor television celebrity facing a trial and jail-time. Undoubtedly, of the many co-defendants in jail, or about to face it, some will turn on Jen Shah to reduce their own sentences. That is the way these cases often work. In fact, Shah’s flaunting of wealth lifestyle and many excesses will harm her.
What is evident from this case and many of the others around us, is how celebrity, political, athletic and financial status frequently used to the perks of their lifestyles lose all sense of reality.
However, even more troubling are the victims of their frauds. Moving away from Jen Shah for a second are the huge numbers of scams where celebrities of all types, induce the naïve and the wannabes into falling for a wide range of dubious investments and frauds. Many believe that if “X” endorses it, is must be a great deal.
Earlier, I mentioned Elizabeth Holmes (and her star-studded board of directors) who induced people to part with their money. Over time, we have talked of entertainers, athletes, moguls and politicians who represented deals for which there was scant substance or the chance of a return.
Jen Shah is an ethically clueless person who will posture toward the end. Unless she can offer a legitimate defense rather than bluster, this insignificant celebrity will disappear. Unfortunately, it is too late to save the elderly she and “her assistant” scammed.
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