NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A former state lawmaker whose testimony under a plea deal involving a taxpayer-funded postal service helped prosecutors secure the conviction of a former Tennessee House speaker has been sentenced to eight months in prison.
Former state Rep. Robin Smith, a Republican who pleaded guilty to honest services fraud more than three and a half years ago, said during her sentencing hearing that she had “violated the public trust,” the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported.
“My mom and dad raised me to be much better than this,” Smith, 62, said Friday in Nashville federal court before U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson. “I ask for the public's forgiveness.”
Smith must report to jail by January 5.
As part of her March 2022 plea, Smith agreed to “full, complete and truthful” cooperation with the federal government, the newspaper said. She testified earlier this year during the public corruption trial of former Speaker Glen Casada and his former chief of staff, Cade Cothren.
A jury ruled in May that Casada was found guilty of 17 of 19 charges, while Cothren was found guilty of all 19 charges against him. In September, Richardson acquitted Casada and Cothren of three of those charges each, but left 14 for Casada and 16 for Cothren.
The judge then sentenced Casada to three years in prison and Cothren to 2 1/2 years.
The corruption trial included activity after Casada resigned as speaker in 2019 following a vote of no confidence by fellow Republicans over swirling scandals, but while he was still a lawmaker. Cothren had stepped down from his position in 2019 amid allegations.
Prosecutors said Cothren founded a company called Phoenix Solutions with the knowledge and backing of Casada and Smith, which the three claimed was headed by a “Matthew Phoenix,” and that companies controlled by Casada and Smith received about $52,000 in taxpayer money in 2020 from a mail-in scheme for lawmakers.
A “Matthew Phoenix” signature ended up on an IRS tax document. An alleged associate of the fictional character was played by Casada's then-girlfriend, prosecutors said. The goal was to use the state-funded contracts to launch more lucrative businesses, prosecutors said.
Smith testified at this year's trial that the purpose of the plan was to hide who was behind Phoenix Solutions over the “radioactive” scandal that pushed Casada and Cothren out of power.
During the trial, defense attorneys tried to portray Smith as untrustworthy and driven by the hope of a lenient sentence.
Richardson said Friday that Smith was more involved than Casada in keeping the company afloat, pressuring government officials and “spinning a web of fabrications,” the Times Free Press reported.
“We have these government officials,” the judge said. “We elect them to do what is right.”
Smith, a former county and state GOP leader, was elected to the state House in 2018 to represent part of Hamilton County. She resigned from her plea deal in early 2022.
