NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A former state lawmaker whose testimony during a lawsuit over a taxpayer-funded postal business scheme helped prosecutors get a former Tennessee House speaker sentenced to eight months in prison.
Former state Rep. Robin Smith, a Republican who had pleaded guilty to one count of honest services fraud more than 3 1/2 years ago, said during her sentencing hearing that she had “betrayed the public’s trust,” the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported.
“My mom and dad raised me to be a lot 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 Jan. 5.
As part of her March 2022 plea, Smith agreed to “full, complete and truthful” cooperation with the federal government, the paper said. She testified earlier this year at the public corruption trial of former Speaker Rep. Glen Casada and his former chief of staff, Cade Cothren.
A jury in May found Casada guilty of 17 of 19 charges while Cothren was found guilty of all 19 counts against him. In September, Richardson acquitted Casada and Cothren of three of those counts each but allowed 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 involved activities after Casada resigned as speaker in 2019 following a no-confidence vote by fellow Republicans amid swirling scandals, but while he was still a lawmaker. Cothren had quit his job in 2019 following allegations.
Government prosecutors said Cothren started a company called Phoenix Solutions with the knowledge and support of Casada and Smith that the three claimed was run by a “Matthew Phoenix,” and companies controlled by Casada and Smith received roughly $52,000 in taxpayer money in 2020 from a mail-in program for lawmakers.
A “Matthew Phoenix” signature ended up on an IRS tax document. An alleged associate of the fictitious person was portrayed by Casada’s then-girlfriend, prosecutors said. The goal was to use the state-funded assignments to start more lucrative businesses, according to prosecutors.
Smith testified at this year’s trial that the goal of the program was to hide who was behind Phoenix Solutions because of the “radioactive” scandal that ousted Casada and Cothren.
During the trial, defense attorneys tried to portray Smith as untrustworthy and driven by the hope of a lighter sentence.
Richardson said Friday that Smith was more involved than Casada in propping up the company, pressuring public officials and “spinning a web of fabrications,” the Times Free Press reported.
“We have these public servants,” the judge said. “We elect them to do the right thing.”
Smith, a former county and state GOP leader, was elected to the state House in 2018 to represent part of Hamilton County. She resigned her seat in early 2022 amid her plea deal.
