NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for his role in a political fraud and kickback scheme involving nearly $160,000 in state and campaign funds.
Casada, 66, was convicted in May alongside his former chief of staff, Cade Cothren, 38, following a federal investigation into a bribery conspiracy. The scheme, which began in 2019, revolved around a sham political consulting firm — Phoenix Solutions — secretly controlled by Cothren and supported by Casada.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Casada and Cothren misled fellow lawmakers and state officials to funnel public funds through Casada’s newly created company, Right Way Consulting, and into Cothren’s accounts. From there, a portion of the profits were kicked back to Casada and other conspirators. Right Way Consulting was formed in January 2020, specifically to receive these fraudulently obtained payments.
Phoenix Solutions reportedly earned $159,496.48 from state-funded campaign and caucus work.
The conspiracy unraveled after a 2021 FBI raid on both men’s homes. Casada was ultimately convicted of 14 counts, including conspiracy, honest services fraud, and money laundering. His request for a new trial was denied.
On Tuesday, Casada received a prison sentence six months longer than Cothren’s. He was also ordered to:
Pay a $30,000 fine
Forfeit $4,643.60 in proceeds
Serve one year of supervised release following his prison term
Authorities emphasized the betrayal of public trust.
“The defendants abused their power as government officials and defrauded taxpayers for their own enrichment,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the DOJ’s Criminal Division.
“This prosecution… shows our office’s steadfast commitment to seek justice in cases involving public corruption,” added Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Casada had previously resigned as Speaker in 2019 amid a separate scandal involving misconduct in his office.
