Former Georgia Prison Guard Sentenced for Smuggling Meth and Lying About Military Service

Nicholas Grindle, a former guard at Hays State Prison, was sentenced today for conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and bribery. During his sentencing hearing, Grindle was challenged for requesting mercy based on false claims regarding his military service, including fabricated stories of combat injuries.

“Grindle violated his oath of office by smuggling drugs into a prison he swore to protect,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “He then compounded this crime by lying about his military service.”

Grindle, 32, of Summerville, Georgia, smuggled methamphetamine and other contraband into Hays State Prison over the course of several months in late 2023 and early 2024. He was caught after a search of his locker revealed methamphetamine, cell phones, and other contraband intended for distribution among inmates. Further investigation revealed that Grindle had been receiving bribery payments from inmates in exchange for bringing drugs into the prison.

During the sentencing, Grindle falsely claimed he had been injured in combat during his deployment to Afghanistan, asserting that he had been stabbed by a Taliban fighter and killed the attacker. However, his military records and statements from fellow soldiers disproved these claims.

Grindle was sentenced to 87 months of confinement, followed by three years of supervised release, by United States District Judge William M. Ray, II. He had pleaded guilty to the charges on November 21, 2024.

“It’s alarming to think that this prison guard was brazen enough to distribute dangerous drugs and other contraband,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Division.

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Georgia Department of Corrections Office of Professional Standards, and the Lookout Mountain, Georgia, Drug Task Force.

Assistant United States Attorney Calvin A. Leipold, III prosecuted the case.