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.

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Why was she getting false prescriptions to sale in the first place? I feel no pain for this woman. There are lots of places where she can get generic drugs very cheap. Her doctor needs to be notified and next time she needs a prescription, they should be very strict on her. People like her are why insurance is so high. Well, it's not for her since she's kicking it on Medicaid/Disability. This act shouldn't stop doctors from giving those prescriptions who actually need them. Most of the time, if you actually need disability, you won't get it but if you don't need it, the system will shuffle you on through and send you a check. What a joke it is!

2beachy4u
February 20, 2009 4:44 p.m.

Good Gosh. Is this really necessary? The woman doesn't sound like she was selling drugs to put spinners on her cadillac. It sounds like she was hurting. Is it necessary to do a sting on her? It must have been like shooting fish in a barrel for the cops.

CrewMax
February 20, 2009 3:06 p.m.

Cease her benefits and make her get a job. That would be better than giving her another free ride on the system by putting her in jail to support her.