Elizabeth Holmes started serving her 11 year sentence for fraud back in May. Lo and behold, she’s in the same federal prison as Jen Shah, who is also serving time (6.5 years) for fraud and money laundering. Apparently the two women have become “friends,” a development that has surely got Andy Cohen’s attention. This story comes from a rep for Jen Shah so it’s probably spin to a degree. But both women are noted grifters and con artists so…it kind of tracks that they’d get along? Jen has met Elizabeth’s baby daughter, and Elizabeth goes to Jen’s fitness classes.
Months into starting her sentence at a federal prison in Texas, disgraced tech mogul Elizabeth Holmes has become “friends” with fellow inmate Jen Shah, according to the a rep for the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City alum.
“They’re friends. They’re both rehabilitating and have bonded over being on this journey of positive change,” the rep, Chris Giovanni, tells PEOPLE. “Their situations brought them together, and they have a good understanding of one another. They’re getting through it together.”
While behind bars, both women are subject to a daily, 6 a.m. wake-up call, according to the prison handbook. They are expected to keep their cells clean and sanitized and maintain a regular job assignment where inmates are paid between $0.23 and $1.15 for their work, PEOPLE reported previously.
What their ‘friendship’ is like: “Jen’s given her a lot of advice. She’s even met Elizabeth’s baby and held her,” says Giovanni, who adds that Shah was “very loving” to Holmes and the newborn.
Holmes is also a regular at the fitness classes that Shah conducts, called “Sha-mazing Abs,” according to Giovanni.
“Jen gets all the ladies together and they rally behind her while she teaches them fitness moves, and Elizabeth has been there right along with them,” Giovanni adds.
Shah is also tutoring other inmates hoping to earn a GED. According to Giovanni, both Holmes and Shah have “changed a lot behind bars.”
What I wonder about is, why does Jen Shah want people to know that she’s friends with Elizabeth Holmes? Is she under the mistaken impression that Elizabeth is popular or something? Elizabeth’s lawyer didn’t reply to People’s request for comment, so I don’t think Elizabeth wants to be associated with Jen publicly. If they are ‘friends,’ I think they were probably drawn to each other because they are both notorious and famous. I’ll bet they’re hatching a business plan together for a new, different con. It would not surprise me if Elizabeth turns to reality TV when she gets out. I don’t think she will ever go away. Everything I know about her suggests that she is pretty disconnected from reality. I usually believe in the possibility of redemption, but when it comes to grifters like Jen and Elizabeth, I don’t hold out much hope for reform. I don’t think that they will “change a lot” on the inside. Con artists are uniquely able to rise and fall and rise again.
Photos credit: Janet Mayer/startraksphoto.com/Cover Images and via Instagram
Agreed that besides being famous these two don’t seem that they would have much in common, but who knows?
I rolled my eyes at the “they are rehabilitating “ statement. Elizabeth Holmes has been in jail all of 6 months?, tried to flee the country before her incarceration, and had 2 children suspiciously timed to delay first the trial and then the incarceration, all after her decade-long fraud. It’ll take more than than attending a few fitness classes to convince a parole board that she should be let out early for good behavior.
My eyes rolled at Jen Shah’s PR likening being in prison to a ‘journey of positive change’. I know Jen Shah pleaded guilty–finally–but I think she just finally listened to her lawyers & saw that it was the best thing for her to do. I recently rewatched RHOSLC & was just astonished that she continued to film after her arrest, continued to cry her crocodile tears, continued to protest her innocence. That woman is every bit the conwoman Elizabeth Holmes is.
Just noting, if you’re sentenced to 11 years in federal prison, you’re doing 11 years. Time off/early release for “good behavior” is not a concept that the Feds allow/embrace. It’s one for one, unlike state jails or prisons. EH is in for 11 years.
@ama1977 Federal prison guidelines are actually 85% of the time served. She won’t do 11 years. She will most likely do around 9.4 years. Unless her heir Husband is able to spring her out on some appeal.
“ They’re both rehabilitating and have bonded over being on this journey of positive change,”
Yeah, no. Grifters don’t change, the con does. Judging from this article I’d say they (especially Jen) are developing their “credentials” to restart their careers in the horribly unregulated “wellness” industry.
As a defense lawyer this reads like hee team put out this info for an article that they will then cite in a motion for compassionate release lol (I wouldn’t be above that strategy either for the right client where I thought it might have a good shot based on lots of factors I’m not touching on here).
Andy Cohen is plotting The Real Housewives of Federal Prison as we speak.
🤣 100%
I would be extremely surprised if this was a story Elizabeth Holmes welcomed. Her whole schtick is that she’s a wholesome do-gooder, loving mother, and! she sees herself as very intelligent (and she did get into Stanford so she’s not dumb). Hanging out with and getting advice from a “trashy” reality TV star does not fit her image.
Every 23 cents Shah earns better be going to the people she stole money from. Is Holmes going to lend her a black turtleneck? That would be true lockup friendship.
Legalized slavery in the USA: the prison system.