newYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The FBI arrested a Tennessee Republican congressman and former chief of staff Tuesday morning after indicting him on bribery and kickback conspiracy charges.
63-year-old Tennessee Rep. Glenn Cassada of Franklin, Tennessee, and his former chief of staff Cade Koslen, 35 of Nashville, were accused Monday by a federal grand jury of false charges intended to personally enrich themselves. He was indicted for running a member email program. the Justice Department said.
Both were arrested at their home Tuesday morning by FBI agents.
They are the first to appear before a U.S. magistrate late Tuesday.
GOP Senate Candidate Ted Budd Tears Democrats apart
According to The Tennessean, the 20 indictments are the result of a months-long federal corruption investigation and are the first time in the state’s history that a sitting or former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives has been indicted. Casada, once one of his most powerful Republicans in the state legislature, resigned as House Speaker in 2019, not seeking re-election this year.
The FBI raided Casada’s home and office in January 2021, and in March of this year, lawmakers and legislative officials received a series of grand jury subpoenas in connection with a corruption investigation. In March, Rep. Robin Smith, another Tennessee legislator, pleaded guilty to federal indictments, resigning from office for involvement in a wire fraud scheme allegedly involving Casada.
Beginning around October 2019, while representing the 63rd District of the Tennessee House of Representatives, Cosren and another unnamed co-conspirator (also a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives) held the official position of Cassada and the other co-conspirators. was allegedly involved in fraudulent schemes to enrich himself by exploiting Legislators must obtain “Phoenix Solutions” state-approved mailer program vendors to provide voter mail services to members of the Tennessee Legislature.
According to the 20 indictments released Tuesday, Casada, Cosren, and other co-conspirators have also filed state indictments for Phoenix Solutions, Casada’s political consulting business, and political consulting businesses owned by other co-conspirators. I tried to get the money. Casada and other co-conspirators allegedly enriched themselves by getting bribes and kickbacks from Cosren in exchange for securing approval for his solution, Phoenix as the mailer program’s vendor. was allegedly part of a further conspiracy.
The indictment alleges that Casada and other co-conspirators told members of the Tennessee legislature that Phoenix Solutions was run by an individual named “Matthew Phoenix.” He is an experienced political consultant who previously worked for a consulting firm based in DC.
In fact, Cosren runs Phoenix Solutions, and Cassada, Cosren, and the other co-conspirators know that “Matthew Phoenix” is a fictional character, secretly profiting from a fraudulent business. I was.
Cassada, Cosren, and other co-conspirators allegedly hid their involvement with Phoenix Solutions by filing bogus invoices in the state of Tennessee in the name of a political consulting firm owned by Cassada and other co-conspirators. increase. Phoenix Solutions is offered through the bank accounts of these companies.
In 2020, the companies and the Phoenix solution received about $51,947 from the state in payments related to the Mailer program, according to the Justice Department.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Casada and Cothren have been charged with conspiracy to steal from programs that receive federal funding. Bribery and Kickbacks for Programs Receiving Federal Funds. honest service wire fraud; and conspiracy to launder money. The indictment also charges Casada and Cosren with committing fraud using fictitious names. Theft on programs that receive federal funds. 8 cases of money laundering. Her six cases of honest service wire fraud. Two counts: bribery and kickbacks.
The indictment also includes a forfeiture allegation that the United States seeks to recover all proceeds of the crimes, including monetary judgments representing the value of the proceeds traceable to the convicted crimes. If convicted, Casada and Cosren each face up to 20 years in prison.