As the secretary of Osho Rajneesh from 1981 through 1985, she managed the Rajneeshpuram ashram in Wasco County, Oregon, United States.

In 1999, she was convicted by a Swiss court of "criminal acts preparatory to the commission of murder" in relation to a plot to kill US federal prosecutor Charles Turner in 1985, and she was sentenced to time served.

[8][9] In July 1981, Rajneesh Foundation International purchased the 64,000-acre (260 km2) Big Muddy Ranch in Wasco County, Oregon, which became the site for the development of the Rajneeshpuram commune.

[8][11][12] According to Sheela, Rajneesh was complicit in and directed her involvement in criminal acts she and a group of Rajneeshees committed later.

[13] By 1984, the ashram was coming into increasing conflict with local residents and the Wasco County Board of Commissioners.

[14] Sheela attempted to have both Rajneeshee candidates for the two open seats on the Wasco County Board of Commissioners win the November election.

[8] Later, when the local election board rejected the voter registrations,[17][18] Sheela conspired to use "bacteria and other methods to make people ill" and prevent them from voting.

"[25] After US authorities searching her home found wire-tapping networks and a laboratory in which the bacteria used in the attack had been grown,[10] Sheela was arrested in West Germany in October 1985.

For these crimes, Sheela was sentenced to three 20-year terms in federal prison,[29] ultimately reduced to 4+1⁄2 years,[1] to be served concurrently.

[5][33] In 1999, she was convicted by a Swiss court for "criminal acts preparatory to the commission of murder", in relation to a plot to kill US federal prosecutor Charles Turner in 1985.

[38] After prison, Sheela married Urs Birnstiel, a Swiss citizen, who died of AIDS shortly after their marriage.