TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Sep 17, 2025

Cade Cothren, who resigned as chief of staff to former Tennessee Speaker of the House Glen Casada in 2019, on Tuesday was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his role in a scheme using the state’s constituent mailer program. The Tennessee Lookout reports he was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine and will also be required to remain on probation for one year after serving his time in federal prison. Cothren was convicted alongside Casada of secretly running Phoenix Solutions, a company that funneled taxpayer-funded mailer business for profit. U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson handed down the sentence after rejecting defense objections, finding Cothren used “intricate” money laundering to conceal the scheme. Attorneys for Cothren said they plan to appeal. Casada’s sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 23.