Former federal prisoner pardoned by Trump sworn in as Bureau of Prisons deputy director

Josh Smith, 51, was sworn in as deputy director of the federal Bureau of Prisons in June 2025. He had spent five years in federal prison after a conviction at age 21 for possession of one kilogram of cocaine and 150 pounds of marijuana. President Trump pardoned Smith in 2021 during the final week of his first term.

Smith founded the Fourth Purpose Foundation to advocate for criminal justice reform. Smith spent Christmas 2025 visiting three federal prisons with his wife to thank corrections officers. He attended a New Year’s event at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 31, 2025.

The White House statement on the pardon noted that Smith had dedicated his life to his faith and community and to making prison a place of transformation. Tennessee’s governor and other top state officials supported the pardon. Alice Marie Johnson stated that what stood out was not just that he rebuilt his own life, but how seriously he has taken the responsibility to help others do the same.