Robin Smith Statement on Wire Fraud Guilty Plea

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WDEF) – Former Hixson state representative Robin Smith entered a guilty plea today in Nashville to a federal charge of wire fraud in which she helped maintain a charade by a political operative to get a contract from the state legislature. FBI investigators say she got kickbacks for her efforts.

She will be sentenced in October.

Smith issued this statement on her court appearance today:

“Earlier today, I entered into a plea agreement with the federal government. I have pled guilty to one count of honest services fraud. Once the Department of Justice informed me of the nature of my activities, I took full responsibility for my actions, culminating in my guilty plea. There are no excuses. I intend to cooperate fully as a witness with the federal government and do whatever I can to assist the government in this regard.

I have resigned as Representative of the Tennessee House. I did so out of respect for the honor of Tennesseans, my commitment to public service over the last several decades, and of course, my Christian faith. I believe in forgiveness and I hope to earn yours over time..

Serving is an honor. Rather than continuing to serve in the General Assembly, I intend to remain active in my community and my church. While this has been a difficult time in my life, I remain convinced that something positive will come out of it.

As you can imagine, I am not able to provide any additional comment at this time. If you have any questions or need any additional information, I would refer you to the plea agreement, which speaks for itself.”