Garry B. Smith: Indicted

Garry B. Smith of Garland was indicted by a Collin County grand jury March 25 on charges of theft, securities fraud, and money laundering for the alleged sale of fraudulent investments contracts in oil and gas drilling projects. A co-defendant, Robert James Nelson of Prosper, was indicted on the same charges. Smith and Nelson allegedly sold units of interest in a six-well venture in Archer County. The men failed to disclose that they used investor funds to pay for expenses unrelated to drilling and other costs. The indictment also alleges that Smith did not disclose to investors his history of regulatory sanctions, judgments, and orders of restitution from civil court lawsuits.