MARTINSVILLE, Va. (WDBJ/US Attorney’s Office) - A Martinsville-based doctor, who was found guilty of more than 450 counts of multiple drug charges at the conclusion of a three-week jury trial in December 2024, has been sentenced in U.S. District Court in Abingdon to 40 years in federal prison.

Joel Smithers, 42 of Texas, was found guilty of one count of maintaining a place for the purpose of illegally distributing controlled substances and 466 counts of illegally prescribing Schedule II controlled substances, according to the US Attorney’s Office.

“This defendant’s actions betrayed his oath to his patients, his community, and the healthcare system at large,” Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of these crimes, and the destructio

See Full Page