Nashville Jail drug smuggling case involves former Sheriff's Office employee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Six people, including a former sheriff's office employee, have been charged at Nashville's Downtown Detention Center (DDC) for their involvement in a drug smuggling ring. This is part of a larger ongoing investigation by the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) and the Davidson County Sheriff's Office into the transportation of illegal drugs into Nashville jails.

The investigation, which began in July, revealed that Imani Birdine, a 26-year-old former DDC employee, was bringing drugs into the prison. Birdine worked with two inmates, Carlos Robins, 47, and Demetrice Holmes, 22, to distribute the drugs.

Holmes passed 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 supply 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 is the third round of drug smuggling charges in Davidson County jails, bringing the total number of people charged in the investigation to 14.

This case comes after another significant drug incident in Nashville prisons. Earlier this year, five people, including a former correctional officer, were charged after a teenage inmate died of a fentanyl overdose at the Correctional Development Center. This case involved a network of inmates and outsiders who smuggled drugs into the prison system. Read more about this case here.

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