"The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" star Jen Shah is breaking her silence on the fraud scheme that got her locked up ... The reality star is bending over backwards to show how sorry she is despite her crumbling marriage, which she says played a major part.

Remember ... Prosecutors allege that Shah was a central figure in a scheme which pushed so-called "business services" to older or financially vulnerable victims which were basically useless.

After pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Shah was sentenced to 6 and a half years but ultimately only did 33 months in prison and is serving out the remainder of her sentence in home confinement.

Now -- at least $6.6 million worth of fraud later -- Shah told People, "I was wrong. I made wrong decisions. I should have done things differently. I should have been more diligent. And I'm deeply remorseful and sorry for my actions and for my part. I take full responsibility."

While Shah stresses she doesn't want to make excuses, she reveals her marriage was actually on life support at the time she got sucked into the scheme she says was led by higher-ups at the company.

She said, "What's important for me to say -- and I need to let people know -- was at the same time, my involvement in this conspiracy overlapped with my own personal pain. My husband [Sharrieff "Coach" Shah] and I were separated. We were on the verge of a divorce. I was overwhelmed with immense grief from the death of my grandmother, my father and my aunt, all in a very short period of time. I was spiraling deeper into my previously diagnosed clinical depression."

The marriage must have been stronger than she thought, because they're still together and approaching their 32nd wedding anniversary.