James Smith, former Deputy Director of Infrastructure and Operations in Gwinnett County’s Department of Information Technology, was arrested this morning following an investigation into financial misconduct.
The Gwinnett County Treasury Division flagged suspicious activity on May 15 related to a vendor payment, prompting an immediate police investigation. Authorities determined Smith allegedly altered financial documents in an attempt to redirect county funds. He now faces charges of Computer Theft, Computer Forgery, and Criminal Attempt to Commit Theft by Taking, and has been booked into the Gwinnett County Jail.
In Context: Gwinnett County Administrator Glenn Stephens issued a statement expressing that county officials are “deeply troubled” by the discovery and emphasized their commitment to transparency and accountability. The county is “fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities” but will refrain from further comment during the ongoing investigation.
⚠️ Reminder: Crime articles contain only charges and information from police reports and law enforcement statements. Suspects and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Before You Dismiss This Article…
We live in a time when information feels overwhelming, but here’s what hasn’t changed: facts exist whether they comfort us or not.
When A&W launched their third-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in the 1980s, it failed spectacularly. Not because it tasted worse, but because customers thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If basic math can trip us up, imagine how easily we can misread complex news.
The press isn’t against you when it reports something you don’t want to hear. Reporters are thermometers, not the fever itself. They’re telling you what verified sources are saying, not taking sides. Good reporting should challenge you — that’s literally the job.
Next time a story makes you angry, pause. Ask yourself: What evidence backs this up? Am I reacting with my brain or my gut? What would actually change my mind? And most importantly, am I assuming bias just because the story doesn’t match what I hoped to hear.
Smart readers choose verified information over their own comfort zone.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
