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.
How to Read and Understand the News
Truth doesn’t bend because we dislike it.
Facts don’t vanish when they make us uncomfortable.
Events happen whether we accept them or not.
Good reporting challenges us. The press isn’t choosing sides — it’s relaying what official, verified sources say. Blaming reporters for bad news is like blaming a thermometer for a fever.
Americans have a history of misunderstanding simple things. In the 1980s, A&W rolled out a 1/3-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. It failed because too many people thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If we can botch basic math, we can certainly misread the news.
Before dismissing a story, ask yourself:
- What evidence backs this?
- Am I reacting to facts or feelings?
- What would change my mind?
- Am I just shooting the messenger?
And one more: Am I assuming bias just because I don’t like the story?
Smart news consumers seek truth, not comfort.
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.
