What We Know About ‘RHOSLC’ Role, Arrest

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Jen Shah’s Legal Drama: Everything We Know About Her Job, ‘RHOSLC’ Status, Arrest and More

Jen Shah was indicted for her alleged function in a long-running telemarketing scheme whereas filming season 2 of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City — and all eyes are on the Bravo star as she faces as much as 14 years in jail.

Bravo viewers met Shah throughout season 1 of RHOSLC, which filmed in 2019 and aired in 2020. She rapidly turned a polarizing character on the franchise, with followers questioning her job and wish for a number of assistants.

“People will come to me and I’ll invest in their companies, so we have a got a lot of different investments, all different kinds of things,” Shah mentioned of her profession on Access Hollywood’s “Housewives Nightcap” in November 2020. “I’ve been able to do it because what I’ve been able to carve out, the niche I’ve been able to carve out in the direct response marketing world.”

Not lengthy after manufacturing started on season 2 of RHOSLC — which additionally starred Meredith Marks, Whitney Rose, Heather Gay, Lisa Barlow and Mary Cosby — information broke on March 30, 2021, that Shah and one among her assistants who appeared on the present, Stuart Smith, had been arrested in Utah.

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“Jennifer Shah, who portrays herself as a wealthy and successful businessperson 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,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss mentioned in a press launch. “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.”

HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh claimed that Shah and Smith “built their opulent lifestyle at the expense of vulnerable, often elderly, working-class people.”

“Shah and Smith objectified their very real human victims as ‘leads’ to be bought and sold, offering their personal information for sale to other members of their fraud ring,” Fitzhugh mentioned. “Working with our partners at the NYPD and the United States Attorney’s Office, SDNY, and with the assistance of HSI Salt Lake City, HSI New York worked to ensure that Shah and Smith will answer for their alleged crimes. As a result, their new reality may very well turn out differently than they expected.”

A supply instructed Us Weekly on the time that Shah is “embarrassed” by the scandal, which included NYPD detectives, Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York working collectively.

“Jen is really humiliated that all of this is happening in the public eye and that it will be shown on Bravo,” the supply instructed Us on March 31, 2021.

Every defendant within the case has pleaded responsible to their respective prices as of July 2022, when Shah turned the ultimate defendant to alter her plea. She pleaded responsible to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as a part of a plea deal.

Scroll by for a breakdown of the costs and all the things we find out about Shah’s authorized drama:

This is an ongoing article that was initially revealed in March 2021 and final up to date on December 23, 2022.

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Jen’s Job in Her Own Words

“I own three different marketing companies and we do lead generation, data monetization, customer acquisition. The best way to describe it is, I’m the Wizard of Oz, I’m the one behind the curtain that no one knows exists but I’m the one making everything happen,” Shah instructed Access Hollywood in November 2020. “So, ads are popping to you guys and they’re like, ‘How the hell do they know I’m shopping at Neiman Marcus?’ That’s me.”

She continued: “If you think about it, you know how much traffic is on the internet every second, all the people clicking. I’m making money on every click, anytime you click on anything I’m getting some money. I think because I’ve been blessed to be successful with my marketing background and my companies, I’ve really found a niche within the direct response marketing world. I’ve been able to branch out and invest in our fashion company, our skincare line, our lash line.”

Credit: Courtesy Jen Shah/Instagram

The Accusations

Shah and Smith’s alleged roles within the telemarketing scheme embrace defrauding “hundreds” of individuals, many over the age of 55, by promoting “lead lists” for fictitious enterprise alternatives.

Credit: Courtesy Jen Shah/Instagram

The Timeline

According to the press launch, Shah and Smith’s alleged involvement within the scheme stems again to 2012. While they had been indicted in March 2021, the case dates again to 2019 and 10 others — Anthony Cheedie, Chad Allen, Shane Hanna Cameron Brewster, Kevin Handren, Joseph Ciaccio, Joseh Minetto, Joseph Depaola, Derek Larkin and Mattie Cirilo — who had been beforehand charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in reference to telemarketing.

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The Charges

Shah was booked on conspiracy to commit wire fraud in reference to telemarketing and conspiracy to commit cash laundering. Both the Bravo star and her assistant face a most sentence of 30 years for the wire fraud prices and an extra 20 years for the cash laundering prices. However, when Shah pled responsible to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, the cash laundering cost was dropped as a part of the plea deal. Shah now faces 14 years in jail.

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The 1st Court Appearance

Following Shah’s arrest, she appeared earlier than a Utah choose on March 30, 2021. The choose set the next circumstances for her and Smith: should commit no federal offense upon launch, should seem as required, no touring outdoors of Utah except New York City courtroom, no worldwide journey, no contact with co-defendants and no engagement in telemarketing. They had been subsequently seen leaving the Utah courtroom and ignored all reporters’ questions as they headed to their automobiles.

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The Plea

Shah known as into her listening to on April 2, 2021, and pleaded not responsible to 1 rely of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in reference to telemarketing and one rely of conspiracy to commit cash laundering. She sought counsel from her native Utah lawyer, Clayton Simms, and from recognized white collar crime protection legal professional Henry Asbill, who works out of Washington, D.C. The authorities described the scandal as a $5,000,000 cash laundering scheme.

The Bravo persona met with U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein in New York City in July 2022 and adjusted her plea from not responsible to responsible. “Jen Shah sworn in to plead guilty on the first count of her criminal indictment in connection with telemarketing fraud scheme that prosecutors said preyed on the elderly,” reporter Josh Russell tweeted. Her conspiracy to commit cash laundering was subsequently dropped, per Page Six.

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Bail Conditions

During the April 2, 2021, listening to, the choose set Shah’s bail at $1 million, giving her one week to pay the required $250,000 “to secure that bond in cash or property.”

“There is a risk of flight here. It’s not insubstantial,” the judge said. “I’m going to release her on the following conditions: I am going to require a personal recognizance bond of $1 million. I am going to require $250,000 to secure that bond in cash or property. She will have one week to comply.”

Shah’s lawyer then requested for 2 weeks to safe the bond, which the choose authorised, however famous that Shah should signal the $1 million private recognizance bond by the tip of the day. Other circumstances of her bail included no drug use or extreme alcohol, not being allowed to open any financial institution accounts and continued psychological well being remedies. 

Credit: Courtesy of Jen Shah/Instagram

Jen’s Assets

The Bravo star’s legal professional instructed the courtroom that Shah doesn’t personal her residence — which was labeled as “Jen’s Chalet” on the collection — or any actual property. The authorities additionally alleged that she has not willingly disclosed her belongings amid the investigation.

When requested about her employment outdoors of telemarketing, her lawyer instructed the choose, “She’s within the trend enterprise and on a information present as nicely … The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.”

Credit: Courtesy of hairbyendo/Instagram

Trial Date

During the April 2021 listening to, a choose set a trial date for October 18, 2021, noting which will change as a consequence of COVID protocols.

During the August 2021 listening to, the trial was postponed till March 2022 following up to date COVID-19 requirements. The trial was set for July 18, 2022. However, her responsible plea earlier that month resulted in no want for a trial.

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Request Denied

Shah filed a movement to dismiss her case, however it was denied by the choose in August 2021, Us confirmed. In her preliminary ask, she hoped prices could be dismissed. Additionally, her legal professional, Daniel R. Alonso, together with colleagues Henry W. Asbill and Michael S. Chum, introduced their resignation. Shah has retained legal professional Priya Chaudhry, of ChaudhryRegulation PLLC, to characterize her within the case shifting ahead, in line with the courtroom paperwork.

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The Day of Arrest

The lead-up to Shah’s arrest by members of Homeland Security and the New York Police Department appeared in a season 2 episode of the collection, which aired in November 2021.

In the moments earlier than she was taken into custody, Shah instructed her RHOSLC castmates that she was unable to go on a visit with them to Vail, Colorado, as a result of her husband was affected by a medical emergency.

“I have some bad news,” she instructed costarGay because the cameras rolled pre-departure. “I just got a phone call and Sharrieff Sr.’s in the hospital. He has internal bleeding, so I need to go.”

After telling Gay that the medical doctors weren’t “sure if they’re going to need to do surgery,” she shared the unhealthy information with Rose, Barlow and Jennie Nguyen, who had been on the bus on the brink of go away. Nearly quarter-hour later, the authorities pulled into the car parking zone of Gay’s magnificence clinic. “Is this a prank?” Rose requested. “Is Jen playing a prank on us, though?”

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The Reactions

During a November 2021 episode of RHOSLC, Shah’s costars had been left in shock after Homeland Security confirmed up on the lookout for her. “Other than our families, there was seven people that knew we were meeting at Beauty Lab today. I can’t imagine anyone here would turn Jen in, but this looks really sus[picious],” Lisa Barlow famous in a confessional after Whitney Rose recommended that “someone told” the authorities the place to seek out Shah.

“I don’t know anything, but I have a lot of questions around, like, Jen’s lifestyle,” Rose continued. “It intrigues me where she gets all of her money and all of her things from.”

Meredith Marks mentioned in a FaceTime name with the solid that she was “not surprised” by the arrest, including, “Too many things didn’t add up and I’ve suspected that something was going on for a while. And now, it’s validated that I was right [and] I’m not crazy. That’s the bottom line.”

Credit: Courtesy of Jen Shah/Instagram

A Codefendant’s Sentence

In November 2021, Joseph Ciaccio, who was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in reference to telemarketing in 2019, was sentenced to time served. According to legal professional Ronald Richards, Ciaccio obtained the sentence as a result of a latest automobile accident left him paraplegic. “Judge was very compassionate about it and did not follow the government recommendation and sentenced him below guidelines,” Richards tweeted.

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Smith Changes His Plea

Smith, the assistant who was arrested and charged with Shah, modified his plea in November 2021 after initially pleading not responsible. “He pleaded guilty to three counts: conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and obstruction of justice,” Richards instructed Us on the time. “He admitted to hiding possession and cash, defrauding aged individuals and mendacity to the Federal Trade Commission in a deposition, which constituted perjury.” Smith will likely be sentenced in March 2022 after his former boss’ trial. He faces a most sentence of 30 years in jail.

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‘The Housewife & the Shah Shocker’ Case Shake-Up

Following the discharge of The Housewife & the Shah Shocker, a documentary that explored Shah’s authorized points with interviews from alleged victims and authorities brokers, the Bravo persona requesting that her prices.

Shah’s authorized workforce claimed that the ABC News doc would destroy her probability at an unbiased jury pool as a result of everybody might entry The Housewife & the Shah Shocker forward of her trial.

“Ms. Shah respectfully requests that the Court grant her leave to file a motion to dismiss the indictment,” the courtroom paperwork obtained by Us in December learn. “Given both the extensive viewership of Hulu nationwide and Ms. Shah’s public notoriety, a change in venue would not protect Ms. Shah’s rights, nor would alternative remedies such as a detailed voir dire or emphatic jury instructions.”

The U.S. Attorney responded to the movement stating that there was no foundation to drop the authorized case, to which Shah’s attorneys known as out the federal government officers that participated within the Hulu challenge.

“Make no mistake, the Government cannot shift the blame to Hulu or ABC News for the manner in which the final program was edited,” the RHOSLC star’s response argued. “The Government and its agents publicly expressed their opinions to the press about a pending case, therefore the Government is fully accountable for all that followed. Like any wrongdoer, the Government is entirely responsible for the entire damage caused by its violation of the rules.” 

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Trouble at Home?

In December 2021, a supply solely instructed Us that the drama of the previous yr had “put a strain on” Jen’s marriage to Sharrieff Shah. “It’s been a very stressful time,” the insider defined. Despite the problem, nevertheless, the duo had been nonetheless attempting to make it work. “[Coach Shah] is there for Jen and is supporting her through all of this,” the supply mentioned. “They have a lot of love for each other. They’ve been through therapy, which really helped, and now, they are stronger than where they were months ago.”

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No Dismissal Due to Doc

In December 2021, Jen filed to have her case dismissed. In courtroom paperwork obtained by Us Weekly, she requested her case be dismissed on the idea that the brand new Hulu documentary, The Housewife & the Shah Shocker, violated her proper to a good trial. Jen’s authorized workforce argued that there gained’t be an “untainted jury pool” with the documentary is accessible for anybody to observe forward of the March 2022 trial. Judge Sidney H. Stein denied the request.

Credit: Courtesy Jen Shah/Instagram

Another Plea Change

Nearly one month after Smith modified his plea to responsible, one other codefendant within the case modified his plea as nicely. According to Richards, Shane Hanna — who is without doubt one of the 10 different individuals who had been charged in reference to the case again in 2019 — entered a responsible plea in December 2021 after beforehand pleading not responsible. Hanna pleaded responsible to eight counts of superseding data to wire fraud conspiracy, cash laundering, gadget entry fraud, aggravated identification theft, false statements on mortgage apps and wire fraud. “This is clearly a plea bargained deal,” Richards tweeted, including that the plea might have adverse results for Jen. “These charges are more severe then Stuart Smith’s plea bargain and have a mandatory minimum on the aggravated identify theft.”

Credit: Courtesy Jen Shah/Instagram

‘RHOSLC’ Season 3

After documenting the arrest and the aftermath on season 2 of RHOSLC, Shah returned for season 3, which started manufacturing in winter 2022.

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Jen Wants All ‘RHOSLC’ Clips Excluded From Trial

The Housewife’s authorized workforce is gearing up for courtroom, they usually have particular calls for in terms of RHOSLC.

“Any use of clips from the RHOSLC at the trial of Ms. Shah, either in the government’s case-in-chief or during cross-examination of the defense’s case, would have to fall under one of the exceptions to the hearsay rule of evidence, as they are, by definition, out-of-court statements,” courtroom paperwork obtained by Us in February 2022 acknowledged. The protection additionally submitted practically 40 questions for the potential jury, together with a number of queries about every potential juror’s data of the truth collection.

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The Government Claims They Have ‘Evidence’ of Fraud

While Jen’s workforce is making ready their aspect of the story, the federal government is engaged on theirs, in line with courtroom paperwork obtained by Us in February 2022.

“The Government intends to offer evidence [of fraud] in the form of financial records, summary charts, and limited testimony regarding those records, charts, as well as testimony by percipient witnesses with knowledge of the defendant’s disposition of the criminal proceeds,” the newest submitting reads.

Credit: Courtesy of Jen Shah/Instagram

Another Snag

In March 2022, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams requested the choose to reject Jen’s earlier subpoena for paperwork, video footage and communications associated to the ABC News documentary The Housewife & the Shah Shocker. “There is no basis to conclude that the materials sought constitute relevant, admissible evidence,” Williams wrote in a letter. “Indeed, certain of the defendant’s improperly overbroad requests, which seem to potentially encompass footage of the defendant and others who were involved in The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, are particularly ironic in light of her position that such materials are inadmissible.”

One month earlier, Jen’s authorized workforce subpoenaed ABC News for all video footage associated to the documentary, together with all the things that was unaired. In a movement to quash the subpoena, the community argued that Jen has no proper to the footage, noting that the requested materials is protected due to journalist’s privilege. Williams’ letter was written in help of that movement. “The Court should not permit the defendant’s attempted fishing expedition seeking broad categories of documents, communications, and video footage absent a showing of specificity, relevance, and admissibility, none of which the defendant can establish,” he concluded. “Accordingly, the motion to quash should be granted.”

Jen’s workforce fired again with a memo opposing ABC’s movement to reject the subpoena, claiming that the request for Shah Shocker supplies is not hypocritical as a result of the footage allegedly consists of statements from witnesses. “Meanwhile, RHOSLC is a show—that is, a deliberately-edited, Hollywood-fabricated fantasy, loosely based on real people and designed to draw millions of viewers into outrageous episodes manufactured by editors,” the memo argued. “The RHOSLC clips are devoid of evidentiary value, as they do not relate to any material fact at issue in Ms. Shah’s case, whereas the subpoena at issue seeks statements made by actual witnesses.”

Credit: Courtesy Jen Shah/Instagram

When Will Jen Be Sentenced?

With no trial vital as a consequence of her responsible plea, Shah awaits her sentencing. It was first set for November 18, 2022, earlier than being rescheduled to December 15, 2022, on the prosecutors’ request. In November, the trial was rescheduled once more to January 6, 2023 at Shah’s legal professionals’ request.

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Where Things Stand in Season 3

During the season 3 premiere of RHOSLC in September 2022 — which was filmed earlier than she modified her plea to responsible — Jen maintained that she was not responsible of any wrongdoing. “I would be lying if I said I wasn’t scared,” she mentioned of the then-upcoming trial. “I’m not thinking about myself, I’m thinking about my family. I can’t imagine being away from them. It would literally kill me.”

The actuality star additionally famous that she and her household downsized to a home that was solely 4,500 sq. ft (their previous one was 9,000 sq. ft). “I went from the Barbie dream house closet to a normal size closet,” she quipped. “I also had to downsize the Shah Squad. I’m doing my best, that’s all I can say. I’m doing my very, very best.”

While the premiere confirmed Jen getting shut with Meredith, Whitney and Lisa revealed throughout Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen that they have not spoken to Jen since she modified her plea in July 2022. “It was shocking,” Whitney mentioned when requested what she thought when her costar pleaded responsible. “I didn’t see it coming. I really thought she was gonna fight till the end.” Lisa mentioned she despatched Jen a textual content the day of the plea change, including, “It’s not my fault we’re not talking.”

Credit: Courtesy Jen Shah/Instagram; Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock

Has Jen Shah Been Fired From ‘RHOSLC’?

After Shah was noticeably lacking from BravoCon in October 2022 — regardless of being in New York City — Cohen seemingly confirmed her dismissal from the present forward of season 4.

“Once we wrapped [season 3 and] she pled guilty, I think that was kind of, unfortunately, the end of, you know, the engagement there,” he instructed followers throughout a panel. “But I hope to sit down with her and talk to her at some point on camera because I have a lot of questions for her.”

The following month, the Bravo exec instructed Us: “I don’t know what to say to people who want her on the show. I hope that she gets no jail time whatsoever and she can come right back … but I have a feeling that she’s not going to be available to be on the show.”

Her standing on the reunion can also be in query. 

Credit: Randy Shropshire/Bravo

‘Lies to Correct’

After Cohen implied that Jen would not be again for RHOSLC season 4, Jen mentioned she needed to set the file straight. “YOU WILL NOT TAKE MY VOICE!” she wrote by way of Instagram and Twitter in October 2022. “I have a lot to say, lies to correct, and people to put in their place. #comingsoon #bravotv #rhoslc #equality #poc.” She additionally included a quote from activist Malala Yousafzai studying: “I raise up my voice not so that I can shout, but so that those with a voice can be heard. … We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.”

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A Closet Full of Fakes

In December 2022, Page Six reported that authorities found greater than 50 counterfeit designer objects in Jen’s residence once they raided her property following her arrest. According to courtroom paperwork obtained by the outlet, the objects included faux Chanel and Louis Vuitton purses and pretend Cartier, Bulgari and Dior equipment. The objects — which additionally included some actual designer wares — had been seized in order that Jen might pay among the $9.5 million she owes in restitution.

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Skipping the Reunion

Jen confirmed in December 2022 that she would not be on the RHOSLC season 3 reunion, claiming that her legal professionals suggested her to not focus on her case on the present. “I was clear with Bravo that out of respect for the courts and a standing judicial order, I would not be in a position to discuss anything related to my legal case or sentencing,” she wrote in an announcement shared by way of Instagram. “Bravo found this unsatisfactory and said they expected to discuss this ‘storyline.’ That expectation has no regard for me or my family’s well-being; so under legal advice, I will not be attending reunion. I need to focus on the most important thing in my life — my family.”

One day later, CNN reported that the embattled actuality star wrote a letter to the choose requesting a lowered jail sentence forward of her January 2023 sentencing. “The horrible enterprise choices I made {and professional} relationships I developed stemmed from some private painful experiences that I used to be going by in my life,” she wrote, requesting a jail sentence of three years. 

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Hopeful for Leniency

Sharrieff, who wed the Bravolebrity in 1994, wrote an emotional assertion on behalf of his spouse earlier than her sentencing. According to courtroom paperwork obtained by Page Six, Sharrieff claimed that Jen has “genuine remorse” for her involvement within the telemarketing scheme and requested for the choose to point out leniency within the remaining ruling.

“Jen has never been arrested or detained for any crime. My wife’s current legal predicament was caused by a confluence of events that came together at various points, which caused her to spiral out of control,” he wrote within the courtroom submitting. “Because of my absence, I was not able to see how badly my wife was suffering. As I think about it now, I saw her spending more time in our bedroom alone. She often fell asleep in our children’s bed waiting for me to come home. She would constantly tell me that she feels so alone.”

Credit: Courtesy of Jen Shah/Instagram

The Government Recommends 10 Years

Weeks earlier than her January 6, 2023, sentencing, the United States authorities beneficial Shah be sentenced to 10 years, calling the truth star “the most culpable person charged in this case” and alleging her “belated expressions of regret ring hole.”

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Victim Impact Statements

Ahead of Jen’s sentencing, a number of of her alleged victims addressed the choose in affect statements and requested that “the punishment fit the crime.” One particular person claimed they misplaced greater than $100,000 and needed to remortgage their residence, including that their marriage practically resulted in divorce due to the monetary fallout. “You sounded sympathetic and convincing, so I trusted you,” the sufferer wrote, immediately addressing Shah. “I was such an idiot. The courts may have some form of punishment for the lawless activities that have been committed, but even when you have served your due punishment, whatever that may be, our God and heavenly creator of all things will be the one, in the long run, who you will truly have to answer to.”

Multiple victims claimed that they thought-about suicide after spending 1000’s of {dollars} on fraudulent tutoring programs. “Your sanity is in doubt, your confidence eroded, your independence, what limited amount there is, curbed and you can’t trust anybody,” wrote one particular person. “You are not the same person you were before this experience. Whoever these telemarketers are, should cease stealing money and repay what they stolen, and perform acts of restitution, such as living as we are, doing what we do with what limited resources we have, and pay for medical services, such as therapy or psychiatric meds.”