Meredith Marks Teases Jen Shah's Return toRHOSLCAfter Prison Sentence: 'Accountability Goes a Long Way' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Meredith Marks and Jen Shah.Photo: Chad Kirkland/Bravo/Getty (2)

When it comes to the possibility of aJen Shahreturn toThe Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, starMeredith Markssays the door is open.

PEOPLE caught up with the reality star over the weekend at Bravo Fan Fest 2024 in Miami, where the idea of a Shah-mazing comeback was a hot topic among the Salt Lake City Housewives.

Shah, who sharestwo kids with husband Sharrieff Shah, is currently behind bars at Bryan Federal Prison Camp in Texas, serving an extended sentence for her role ina long-running nationwide telemarketing scheme. The 51-year-old is currently slated to be released on Dec. 19, 2027.

Meredith Marks at Bravo Fan Fest 2024.Ivan Apfel/Bravo via Getty

Ivan Apfel/Bravo via Getty

Speaking with PEOPLE about the call on Saturday, Nov. 23, Marks explained that the conversation was “very light.”

“I was just happy to hear her voice again,” Marks adds. ‘She sounds like she’s doing well. She sounds like she’s really working on herself. And I was glad to hear that."

Marks went on to assure PEOPLE that she never would have spoken about her conversation with Jen had she not had Jen’s permission. “I would never do that,” Marks says. “That’s Jen’s story, not mine. So if she didn’t allow me to talk about it, I would not.”

Meredith Marks in a season 5 photoshoot for ‘The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’.Koury Angelo/Bravo

Koury Angelo/Bravo

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Asked why she believes her fellow cast members were so open to Jen now, Marks says it all comes down to Jen’s actions since she began her prison sentence in February 2023.

“Accountability goes a long way in our circle,” Marks says. “If you say, ‘Look, I screwed up and I made a mistake and I’m sorry’ — that matters. If she’s taking accountability and doing what she needs to do to make it better, that’s the best she can do right now. There’s nothing else she can do beyond that.”

“We’re human. We all do things that we’re not proud of that are wrong at times,” Marks continues. “This is a big one, obviously; it’s a bad one. But she’s in prison. She’s serving her time.She’s paying restitution. I mean, she’s not earning a ton of money, but she’s doing what she can. And thats all a big price to pay. I don’t know what more you can ask from her.”

Jen Shah on ‘The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’.Andrew Peterson/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

Jenwas arrestedin March 2021 along with her assistantStuart Smith. Both were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing, as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Though she proclaimed her innocence to federal prosecutors initially — going as far asfilling a request to have the charges dismissedin August 2021, which was denied — Jen eventuallyentered a guilty pleain July 2022, admitting that she was “sorry” and noting “my actions have hurt innocent people.”

She wassentenced to 6.5 years in prison, but that has been reduced several times since, most recently in October.

Jen Shah in a season 3 photoshoot for ‘The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’.Chris Haston/Bravo via Getty

In February, Jen reflected on the first year of her experience behind bars in an exclusive letter to PEOPLE, explaining that “throughout this painful process, God has substantially increased my humility, gratitude, and courage.”

“In my daily prayers, I ask God for the courage to realize I am worthy of a second chance,” she wrote. “Through the countless therapy sessions and classes I have taken, I am finding the courage to set my fear and guilt aside.”

“There is still so much I must learn while I am here at FPC Bryan, I am grateful God has given me a better foundation to appreciate his unwavering love and blessings to fight for that moment of happiness each day,” she said.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake Citycan be streamed in full on Peacock. New episodes air Tuesdays (8 p.m. ET) on Bravo.

source: people.com