Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
Former state lawmaker Robin Smith was finally sentenced at the end of last week by Federal Judge Eli Richardson for her part in a kickback scheme to defraud the state through taxpayer funded mailers.
Smith will spend eight months behind bars in a federal prison, to be followed up with one year of supervised release. She has also been fined $7,500.
During the sentencing hearing in Nashville federal court, 62-year-old Smith said she had “failed the trust of the public” and asked for forgiveness.
Sentencing for Smith was delayed for over two years in order for her to testify against one of her co-conspirators, former House Speaker Glen Casada.
Smith pleaded guilty in March 2022 to one count of honest services wire fraud in relation to the alleged scheme involving bribery and kickbacks in which she, Casada, and Casada’s former chief of staff Cade Cothren all played a part. The charge, regularly used in corruption prosecutions, was accompanied by Smith’s agreement to fully and truthfully cooperate with the federal government.
One time Tennessee Republican Party chair, Smith conspired with Casada and Cothren to create a fake company to participate in the state’s constituent mail program, funded with public dollars.
Cothren created a fake political vendor by the name of Phoenix Solutions, LLC using the fictitious name of “Matthew Phoenix” with which he operated the company, filing federal forms with the name.
In September, Smith paid off a $28,263.26 judgement in connection with the case which she received in July.
Smith paid off the judgement – considered to be equal to the proceeds she received from the scheme – in full via a cashier’s check. In all, Smith and her partners in crime raked in approximately $52,000 in taxpayer funds.
Prosecutors had hoped for a longer incarceration for Smith, between 37 and 46 months for taking the lead in “a lengthy conspiracy to cheat the state.” A $10,000 fine was also recommended.
Smith asked for no fine, no period of home detention or special conditions, and not more than one year of probation.
Thirty letters were submitted to the court on behalf of Smith from family members, colleagues, and church leaders. Attesting to Smith’s commitment to her community, friends, and family, the letters also stated that Smith had fully accepted the responsibility of her actions and has shown a desire to grow from her “mistakes.”
Since resigning as state representative, Smith continued to mentor children, teach Sunday school, and was made Chairman of the Board with Transform Ministries, an organization providing services to inmates and those formerly incarcerated.
While Smith knew that her actions were wrong – her attorneys stated that their client had been teaching Bible studies for 35 years – the prosecution said that in contrast to Casada and Cothren, Smith redeemed herself in part by acknowledging that she was at fault, and by testifying against the two men who were once colleagues.
Other Sources:
https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/oct/24/former-hixson-rep-robin-smith-sentenced-to-8
https://www.chattanoogan.com/2025/10/23/510345/Prosecutors-Ask-Federal-Prison-Time.aspx
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
