Disabled woman charged with selling her prescription drugs

Hope Mills, N.C. — A Hope Mills woman has been charged with selling drugs prescribed to her for a disability, authorities said Friday.

Cumberland County investigators said Deshana Maria Melvin, 33, of 4038 William Bill Luther Drive, sold her medications to undercover agents. She was charged with three counts each of trafficking of opium or heroin and conspiring to traffic in opium or heroin, and she was being held Friday in the Cumberland County Detention Center under a $32,000 bond.

Melvin and Phillip Dean Cockrell were arrested Thursday in a parking lot in Hope Mills after undercover agents made a drug purchase, authorities said.

Authorities said Melvin would provide painkillers Oxycontin and Percocet and the anti-anxiety drug Xanax to Cockrell to sell them.

Cockrell, 50, of 2228 Baywood Road in Fayetteville, was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, trafficking in opium or heroin, maintaining a dwelling for the sale and delivery of cocaine, conspiring to traffic opium or heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was being held Friday in the Cumberland County Detention Center under an $82,000 bond.

Authorities said more arrests were expected as their investigation continues.