MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Former Tennessee State Senator Katrina Robinson was resentenced to time served and imposed an additional fine of $48,600.
Robinson has been recently resentenced, but it was not announced until Nov. 19, 2024, according to a release from the United States' Attorney's Office in Memphis.
The new sentence will be time served and Robinson was imposed a fine of $48,600 for misrepresentations made to the Health Resources and Services Administration, according to the release.
Robinson was found guilty of two count of wire fraud in 2021 in connection with transfers from The Healthcare Institute operating account for personal expenditures. The Healthcare Institute, or THI, was a for-profit provider of training for healthcare field students, which Robinson founded and served as director.
THI received more than $2.2 million in federal grants from Health Resources and Services Administration, between 2015 to 2019, according to the release.
Robinson was also found guilty of two counts of wire fraud for misrepresentations made to HRSA, but a district court granted Robinson's post-verdict motions for judgement of acquittal on those charges but United States attorney's appealed that judgement.
Government officials presented evidence that Robinson reported to HRSA that 215 students had received scholarships in 2017-2018, but an investigation had confirmed that only 161 of those students actually received scholarships, which was originally count 19.
"The appellate court reversed the district court’s grant of acquittal and reinstated the jury’s verdict with respect to Count 19.," the release said. "It held that the evidence at trial showed that Robinson made material misrepresentations to HRSA in 2017-2018 with the intent to deprive HRSA of grant funds and to induce HRSA to continue funding Robinson’s organization.
"Upon remand, Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman resentenced Robinson to time served and assessed Robinson a fine of $48,600 for the misrepresentations she made to HRSA in 2017-2018."
Robinson was expelled from the state senate in 2022.
