Lara Sophia 
Turns out the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City cast was just as shocked as fans by Jen Shah’s guilty plea in her federal fraud case.
Earlier this week, Jen pleaded guilty to count one, conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing.
As part of the deal, Jen faces “up to 168 months” in prison. She also has “agreed to forfeit $6 million, and restitution of $9 million.”
The mother of two will be sentenced on November 7.
Turns out Jen’s co-stars Heather Gay and Meredith Marks were in New York City to support her during her upcoming trial which was set to begin on July 18.
Sources tell Page Six that they were blindsided by Jen’s guilty plea.
The two were made aware of Jen’s plan to plead guilty just moments before it went down. According to a source, Jen called Heather before heading into the courtroom and asked her to inform Meredith that she was taking a plea deal.
Another source confirms the two RHOSLC got a heads up about Jen’s decision to plead guilty.
“Everyone was surprised,” a source revealed, adding that Jen “continually,” told her RHOSLC cast members that she was “innocent and that she was going to fight.”
The “reason people plead [guilty] is because they’re afraid and they can’t afford it, but that she can afford it and she was going to fight for her innocence,” a source explained.
“She knew she had to plead guilty because she was going to be guilty anyway and didn’t want to drag her mom, her husband, her kids, and everybody into it,” the insider adds.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City is currently filming season 3.
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