Gwinnett County Drug Dealer Receives Life Sentence

Glenn Smithson, 52, faced justice as he was found guilty of felony cocaine trafficking and conspiracy to traffic cocaine. The prosecution, led by Assistant District Attorney David Ian, highlighted Smithson’s long history of drug-related offenses spanning three decades.

“Our community is a better place with career drug dealers like the defendant behind bars,” District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “Our prosecutorial team and the Gwinnett County Police Department Narcotics Unit deserve all the credit for putting an end to his criminal enterprise.”

The case unfolded after the Gwinnett County Police Department Narcotics Unit launched an investigation in early 2021, targeting a drug trafficking network. Through wiretap surveillance, investigators identified Smithson as a key player in the illicit operation centered at 1098 Herrington Road. Subsequent monitoring of Smithson’s phone calls revealed his involvement in drug trafficking activities.

On June 30, 2021, law enforcement intercepted Smithson leaving the aforementioned location after a meeting with another suspected drug trafficker. A search of his vehicle uncovered a significant quantity of cocaine stashed under the driver’s seat. Smithson admitted to his involvement in trafficking illegal drugs upon apprehension.

Opting for a bench trial, Smithson faced Gwinnett County Superior Court Judge Tamela Adkins on May 6, 2024. Adkins, after reviewing the evidence and considering Smithson’s extensive criminal history, handed down a life sentence without the possibility of parole.