by Maya Shamari
*disclaimer full credit to FOX17 WZTV link to full article below
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) —Six people, including a former employee of the Sheriff’s Office, have been charged for their involvement in a drug smuggling ring at the Downtown Detention Center (DDC) in Nashville. This is part of a larger ongoing investigation by the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) and the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office regarding the transportation of illegal drugs into Nashville jails.The investigation, which began in July, revealed that Imani Birdine, a 26-year-old former employee of the DDC, was bringing drugs into the jail. Birdine was working with two inmates, Carlos Robins, 47, and Demetrice Holmes, 22, to distribute the drugs.
Holmes was passing the drugs to other inmates, while Robins allegedly communicated with two civilians, Lashonda Jackson, 52, and William Southall, 47, about paying Birdine to smuggle the contraband. They also directed the former employee to deliver drugs to another inmate, William Searle, 39. Birdine resigned from her job during the investigation.
All suspects except Southall have been arrested or are already in custody.This marks the third round of indictments related to drug smuggling into Davidson County jails, bringing the total number of people charged in the investigation up to 14.
This case comes after another significant incident involving drugs inside Nashville jails. Earlier this year, five individuals, including a former correctional officer, were charged after a teen inmate died from a fentanyl overdose at the Correctional Development Center. That case involved a network of inmates and outsiders smuggling drugs into the jail system.
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