Four inmates, a former corrections officer and one civilian are facing numerous charges, including conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, after a nearly yearlong drug investigation centered on the Davidson County jail system.
According to a Metro Nashville Police Department release, the investigation began after the September 2023 death of 18-year-old inmate Daniel Prisco, who was found unresponsive in a cell at the Male Correctional Development Center on Harding Place. An autopsy determined that he died of “acute fentanyl toxicity.” Prisco was under indictment and awaiting court proceedings on two counts of felony aggravated assault and two counts of felony reckless endangerment at the time of his death.
“Over the past several months, the investigation revealed a network of inmates and two others who conspired to introduce drugs into the jail system and distribute them,” the release reads.
Police identified one of the inmates as 30-year-old Emmanual Webb, who is awaiting trial on a 2023 first-degree murder indictment. Webb allegedly worked with his “female associate on the outside,” 28-year-old Devin Popejoy, to bring drugs into jail facilities. “Among other things, Popejoy is alleged to have set up drug-related telephone conference calls between Webb and third parties during his jailhouse calls to her.”
Webb was charged in a new indictment with conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, engaging in a fentanyl delivery conspiracy, two counts of conspiracy to distribute contraband in a penal institution, and two counts of fentanyl delivery. Popejoy was charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, engaging in a fentanyl delivery conspiracy, and conspiracy to distribute contraband in a penal institution.
Webb and Popejoy were indicted in July on felony meth and fentanyl charges. Popejoy was free on bond in that case before she surrendered to police following the new indictment Thursday.
Former Davidson County Sheriff’s Office correctional officer Charles Kelley was also arrested in the investigation. Kelley was charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, engaging in a fentanyl delivery conspiracy, fentanyl delivery, conspiracy to deliver contraband into a penal facility, and delivering contraband.
Kelley, 23, was employed as a correctional officer by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office in February. According to the RCSO, Kelley was “terminated immediately” following his arrest Thursday night.
Also charged in the alleged scheme are current Davidson County inmates William Sigsby (28) and Joshua Young (38), who were both charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, engaging in a fentanyl conspiracy, fentanyl delivery, delivering contraband, and conspiracy to introduce contraband into a penal facility.
Matthew Calhoun (27), a former Davidson County inmate who is now incarcerated at the state’s Bledsoe County Correctional Facility, was charged in the new indictment with conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, engaging in a fentanyl conspiracy, and conspiracy to distribute contraband in a penal institution.
