Commissioner : Gregory C. Dozier

Director of Public Affairs : Joan Heath

Jonathan Gray, Joshua Thompson, and Chase Hallman recognized

Forsyth, GA. – The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) honored Jonathan Gray, Joshua Thompson, and Chase Hallman with the Investigator of the Year award at the 13th Annual GDC Awards ceremony on August 8 at GDC headquarters in Forsyth, Ga.

“Jonathan, Joshua, and Chase made an astounding combined total of 176 arrests in 2016,” said Director of Professional Standards Clay Nix. “Their dedication to serve the state of Georgia and keep the public safe is commendable.”

This inaugural award recognizes a GDC agent/s or investigator/s who are involved with significant cases, received special achievements, displayed leadership, acts of valor or heroism and an outstanding service in the community.

Gray joined the agency in 2015 as a Criminal Investigator for the Northern Region. In 2016, Gray successfully made 16 felony arrests, resulting in a total of 37 separate charges. In addition, he wrote and executed over 18 search warrants, including warrants for houses, vehicles, cell phone carrier and subscriber records, Facebook and other social media, and Paypal. He also investigated a variety of criminal cases, including homicide, financial, and other criminal investigations.

Thompson is currently assigned to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Atlanta Division. His efforts and investigative work have contributed to dismantling several violent gangs. These investigations pertained to drug trafficking, assaults, and murder. In 2016, he made 120 arrests, and seized two kilos of heroin, 50 pounds of marijuana, 10 kilos of meth, 30 firearms, and $15,000.

Hallman is currently assigned to the Atlanta Caroline’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). As a result of his work, several drug trafficking rings supplying a vast assortment of drugs to our prison system have been dismantled. In 2016, Hallman made 40 arrests, and, and seized two kilos of heroin, 107 kilos of marijuana, 73 kilos of cocaine, 12 firearms and $2,171,000.

A large amount of the aforementioned narcotics that Gray, Thompson, and Hallman seized were intended to be introduced into Georgia prisons.

Several key officials were on hand for the ceremony, which was attended by more than 250 guests.  Making the award presentation with Commissioner Greg Dozier were State Senator Tyler Harper, Board of Corrections member Christopher Clark,  Chief of Staff Timothy C. Ward,  Assistant Commissioners Ricky Myrick, Scott Poitevint, Jay Sanders, Randy Sauls, and Director of Professional Development Terry Edge and Director of Professional Standards Clay Nix.

The GDC has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 52,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees.

For more information on the GDC call 478-992-5247 or visit https://gdc.georgia.gov.