The Metro Nashville Police Department said this is the third round of indictments in the overall investigation.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) announced on Wednesday it has made six more arrests in an ongoing investigation related to the smuggling of narcotics into the Downtown Detention Center (DDC).
Imani Birdine, 26, worked at the DDC and was reportedly transporting drugs into the facility. Inmates Carlos Robins, 47, and Demetrice Holmes, 22, were also identified as part of the conspiracy. Officials said Robins also sometimes goes by the name Carlos Erwin.
MNPD said Holmes was discovered to be passing contraband provided by Birdine to other inmates. MNPD added that their investigation found Robins allegedly communicated with two civilians: Lashonda Jackson, 52, and William Southall, 47.
Robins’ communications reportedly concerned paying Birdine for involvement in the scheme. Those civilians were also accused of directing Birdine to deliver drugs to 39-year-old inmate William Searle.
Birdine reportedly resigned from the Sheriff’s Office while the investigation was in progress. Every defendant except for Southall had already been arrested or was already in custody.
“Robins has been in jail since his arrest in September 2023 on multiple felony drug counts and is awaiting trial. Holmes has 2023 convictions for aggravated assault, vandalism and auto theft, and a 2024 conviction for auto burglary,” a press release from MNPD read, in part. “Searle was convicted in April 2024 of reckless homicide in connection with a drug-related death.”
Wednesday’s announcement is the third round of indictments in the overall investigation into drug smuggling into Davidson County detention facilities. MNPD said, as of publication, 14 people have been charged.