A routine bag check at the Lois M. DeBerry Special Needs Facility in Nashville ended with felony charges for a prison medic last week, after correctional officers say they uncovered a stash of drugs and drug-soaked paper tucked inside his belongings at a security checkpoint.
Investigators say 38-year-old medical technician Tamarcus Macon was stopped at the Cockrill Bend gate, where officers reported finding 50 factory-sealed buprenorphine 8 mg strips, five sheets of altered paper that tested positive for K2 and heroin, 11 pills with markings consistent with oxycodone, and three small spray bottles filled with colored liquid. The materials were sent to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for laboratory testing, and Macon was booked on felony counts tied to the alleged contraband.
Checkpoint search turned up strips, pills, and altered papers
According to WSMV, the incident began when a correctional officer examined Macon’s bag at the Cockrill Bend checkpoint outside the DeBerry facility. During that search, arrest documents say, the officer located the strips, pills, altered papers, and spray bottles.
The officer told Macon the bottles were not allowed into the facility. The affidavit states that Macon then retrieved the bottles and left the area before supervisors were notified. A nurse at the gate later confirmed that the strips and pills appeared to be buprenorphine and opioids, according to the report. Investigators documented, logged, and seized all of the items as evidence.
Charges, bond, and next court date
Per the Criminal Court Clerk's website, court records show Macon is charged with possession with intent to deliver a Schedule III controlled substance and introducing contraband into a penal institution. The clerk’s online docket lists his bond at $10,000 and indicates a judge is scheduled to review the case on July 24.
Why DeBerry has tight screening at the door
The Lois M. DeBerry Special Needs Facility serves as Tennessee’s primary medical and mental health prison unit, which helps explain why staff and visitors run a gauntlet of security screening. The facility houses the department pharmacy and a 14-bed dialysis clinic, placing a heavy concentration of medical services and medications behind its walls.
The Tennessee Department of Corrections describes DeBerry as both a transfer center and a medical hub for incarcerated people who need specialized care. With that role comes a network of controlled entry points, screening rules, and security procedures that are designed to keep contraband out of patient care areas.
Legal context behind the alleged contraband
Under Tennessee law, bringing or possessing contraband inside a prison is a standalone criminal offense covered by T.C.A. § 39‑16‑201. Courts have treated controlled substances brought into correctional facilities as serious felonies, particularly when the amounts or circumstances suggest distribution.
Prosecutors typically charge possession with intent to deliver under T.C.A. § 39‑17‑417, which classifies cases according to the schedule and quantity of the drug. When Schedule III substances are involved, possession with intent is commonly filed as a Class D felony, although the exact punishment can vary based on the evidence and a defendant’s record. Lab results and proof of intent are likely to shape how aggressively prosecutors proceed, including whether they seek enhanced penalties or negotiate a plea, and any decisions will be reflected on the county docket as the case moves forward.
For now, the investigation is still active. Prosecutors say they plan to review the TBI’s lab findings before taking the next step, and public information is limited to the initial arrest affidavit and court filings. WSMV remains the main public account of the arrest so far, while the Criminal Court Clerk’s online docket will show any new filings as the case develops.
