Six people have been indicted in a Hamblen County investigation that officials say uncovered heroin and other illegal drugs being smuggled into the county's former jail and passed around to inmates. The June 8 indictments are tied to the 2022 overdose death of 37-year-old Andrew Joseph Dalton of Whitesburg, according to county officials.
The county announced the indictments in a media release and said the case has been turned over to the district attorney's office, with additional charges expected. Authorities said they do not plan to release more details while prosecutors review the case.
In a June 8 media release posted by the Hamblen County Sheriff's Office, officials said the six people indicted "reside in Hamblen and several surrounding counties" and face charges described as "introduction and distribution of narcotics within a correctional facility." The release states that heroin was among the illegal narcotics allegedly involved, and that investigators executed search warrants and interviewed multiple inmates during the investigation.
Investigation and the Indictment
In the same release from the Hamblen County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Chad Mullins credited Detective Sergeant Trevor Snowden and the CID unit with the work that led to the indictments. "I'm proud of Det. Snowden and the diligence he and other members of the CID unit displayed in getting this case resolved," Mullins said in the county statement.
According to the release, Snowden led inmate interviews, analyzed circumstances surrounding the alleged smuggling operation, and helped execute warrants as part of the broader probe.
Forensic Findings
Per the county release, the Knoxville Regional Forensic Center conducted an autopsy and toxicological examination that determined Dalton's 2022 death was an overdose, with heroin listed as a contributing factor.
The state's Office of the State Chief Medical Examiner notes that regional forensic centers handle autopsies and toxicology work for participating counties, including Hamblen, and that autopsy reports are part of the public record.
What the Law Says
Tennessee law makes it a crime to bring controlled substances or other contraband into correctional facilities. Under TNDocket, Tennessee Code Annotated §39-16-201 prohibits the introduction or possession of certain items inside a penal institution and classifies such conduct as a felony. The statute and related court decisions outline how those felonies are categorized and punished, and prosecutors use those provisions when charging people accused of smuggling drugs to inmates.
Next Steps and Local Context
According to the sheriff's release, the indictments are now in the hands of the district attorney's office, which will decide how to move forward. The sheriff's office also stated that additional charges are expected as investigators and prosecutors continue their work.
Contraband smuggling has been a recurring concern in the area. In August 2024, authorities said heroin and Suboxone were found in a Hamblen County corrections officer's car, prompting public condemnation from Sheriff Mullins, as reported by WVLT.
