Six people have been arrested after a special operation by the Tennessee Department of Correction’s (TDOC) Office of Investigations & Conduct (OIC). TDOC special agents began apprehending individuals indicted by the Bledsoe County Grand Jury last week.  Agents received warrants for the arrest of 20 individuals whose indictments stem from a year-long investigation conducted by OIC’s Investigative Unit and BCCX Internal Affairs division. The individuals were indicted on charges that include tampering with evidence, official misconduct, theft of property, assault, contraband in a penal facility and conspiracy to introduce contraband into a penal facility and possession of schedule III narcotics.

TDOC special agents teamed with law enforcement agencies in eight counties including the Bledsoe County Sheriff’s Department, Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, the Second Judicial District’s Drug Task Force and the Tennessee Highway Patrol, netting the following arrests on the first two days of the operation:

Brandon Copeland – tampering with evidence, official misconduct

Leletha Hall – contraband inside of a penal facility

Theresa Ringley – contraband in a penal facility, conspiracy to introduce contraband into a penal facility, possession of schedule III narcotics

Kathy Young – contraband in a penal facility, conspiracy to introduce contraband into a penal facility, possession of schedule III narcotics

Thomas Penwell – theft of property, official misconduct

Jennifer Hughes – contraband in a penal facility, conspiracy to introduce contraband into a penal facility, possession of schedule III narcotics

“This operation is a perfect example of our Department’s efforts to enhance public safety in Tennessee.  We will continue to work with our judicial partners to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who threatens the safety and security of our prisons,” says Commissioner Tony Parker.

Special agents are still investigating leads regarding four more individuals and ten of the suspects are already currently incarcerated.