(Lawrenceville, Ga., 05/20/2024) – A Lilburn man with a history of gang-related crime dating back to his youth was given a life prison sentence for murder in a robbery-gone-wrong.

Jordan Brantley, 27, was convicted late Thursday night of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault and violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. Gwinnett County Superior Court Judge Warren Davis sentenced Brantley to life in prison plus 10 years with the possibility of parole. The jury deliberated for nine hours before delivering a verdict.

“We have zero tolerance for gang violence in Gwinnett County,” District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “This verdict reflects our goal to end violent crime and gang activity in our county. Our prosecutorial team did an excellent job of presenting the facts and helping the jury convict this defendant.”

On Jan. 9, 2019, Leslie Smith traveled to Norcross to retrieve a phone from one of the individuals involved in the counterfeiting enterprise. Smith, who was 62 at the time, rarely if ever came to Gwinnett County and typically operated from Atlanta. Upon arriving in Norcross, he declined to travel to the planned meeting place in an apartment complex and waited in the parking lot of a retail strip mall at 6065 S. Norcross Tucker Road.

Brantley arrived in an SUV and approached the car Smith was waiting in. Brantley got in the back seat when the door was unlocked. About a minute later, the driver of the SUV approached. Brantley shot Smith in the back of the head and got out of the car. He then fired a shot across the vehicle toward the driver of the car, Steven Leap, breaking the driver’s side window. The SUV driver, who was standing next to the driver’s side, took money and an ID from Leap at gunpoint, then he and Brantley ran to their SUV and fled the scene.

But a nearby witness followed the SUV and called 911. Using surveillance cameras, police tracked Brantley to the Stone Mountain Inn and Suites nearly six miles away and arrested him as he tried to persuade a rideshare driver to help him escape.

Brantley and his companion in the SUV are both members of the Gangster Disciples. Brantley has tattoos on his face, including one on his forehead symbolizing his gang affiliation, that made him easily identifiable to witnesses and police.

Assistant District Attorneys Marlene Oldeen, Ryan Smith and Jared Lee prosecuted the case for the DA’s Office.