NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The former top aide to a previous Tennessee House Speaker was sentenced Tuesday after a jury found him guilty of defrauding the state.

Cade Cothren, 38, was indicted by a federal grand jury for alleged involvement in a bribery and kickback conspiracy related to a money-making scheme involving political matters in 2022. In May, a jury found Cothren guilty in connection to the scheme. Former state Speaker of the House Glen Casada was also indicted and found guilty.

The U.S. Department of Justice said the scheme began in 2019 when Casada, Cothren and other conspirators deceived their former colleagues and state officials in an effort to obtain fundings for Phoenix Solutions, Cothren's political consulting business that he established with support from Casada. In exchange for recruiting legislators and securing the approval of Phoenix Solutions’ invoices by the State, Cothren paid kickbacks to Casada.

Casada resigned from his role as House speaker amid a scandal in his office in 2019 and both his and Cothren's homes were raided by the FBI in January 2021.

Cothren was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Additionally, he has to pay a $25,000 fine.

Casada's sentencing was initially scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, but has been postponed until Sept. 23.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/cothren-sentenced/