Prison nurse charged with armed cocaine trafficking

TAMPA — A prison nurse from Valrico has been arrested and charged with armed cocaine trafficking.
Tampa Police detectives searched Oberdella Melvin's home early Wednesday and discovered close to 300 grams of cocaine, according to an arrest report.

Melvin, 46, who has worked at Zephyrhills Correctional Institution for six years, had 103 grams of crack cocaine, 191 grams of powder cocaine and various mixing bowls, digital scales, baggies and other paraphernalia at her 1105 Facet View Way residence, police said.

Deputies also found a revolver under her pillow.

Florida Department of Corrections spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said the agency now is looking into Melvin's activities while on the job.

"At this point, it looks like she never tried to do anything inside the prison system," Plessinger said. "We're certainly disappointed to hear this, and we have concerns because of these charges."

Melvin joined the DOC in March 2002 and worked at the Zephyrhills the entire time, Plessinger said. The agency on Wednesday issued a notice to Melvin of "extraordinary dismissal" from her job.

Prison employees are subject to background checks, as well as random and frequent searches, as a matter of policy. Every employee entering a prison facility also is required to go through a metal detector, Plessinger said.

Melvin was being held without bail Wednesday on charges of armed cocaine trafficking, cocaine trafficking and possession of drug paraphernalia. State records indicated this was her first arrest.

According to DOC statistics, 310 agency employees were arrested in the 2006-07 year. One was arrested for introducing contraband into the system.

Tags: Prison, armed, charged, cocaine, nurse, trafficking, with

Comment by cye young on July 24, 2008 at 4:44pm: DAMN NOW YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL BUT KNOWING HER SHE PROBALY GONE SNITCH ON SOMEBODY.....BUT THEN AGAIN WE HAVE TO LEARN THERE IS TO SIDES TO THE STORY...SO LET ME APOLIGIZE...FOR THAT..AND LETS SEE WHAT HAPPEN AND......LIKE I SAY..ITS CRAZY IN THE HOOD....

Comment by ORANGE MOUND VET.AKA MR.22 SHOTS. on July 24, 2008 at 5:39pm: Man the news be sayin shit in grams cause a lot of people don't know any better that's 9 ounces of cocaine in Florida that's not any weight first offense 5 years top.

Comment by JazzB on July 24, 2008 at 7:39pm: This is why the kids today are doing what they are doing, because people like this in authority are doing the same thing........and they wonder why the younger generation have no respect for them.

Comment by Robert Drake on July 24, 2008 at 7:58pm: Dat's some Deep Shizzzzzzzzzz Word B Sceeyoo

Comment by Lil Bit on July 24, 2008 at 8:58pm: Damn! But someone snitched on her for this to even come out!

Comment by twin on July 24, 2008 at 9:43pm: straight up, someone snitched on her, and i hope she stay true to the game, but the way the world is now, i doubt it. but shit, wit this recession goin on, who can blame her for tryna get money???????????

Comment by MAC YO on July 24, 2008 at 10:37pm: Trap or die jus be smart sth mem nigga

Comment by Chiquita Trask on July 25, 2008 at 12:35am: DAMN THAT'S A FUCKED UP SITUATION I HOPE THE BEST FOR HER. MAYBE THEY WILL JUST GIVE HER PROBATION. BESIIDES NO ONE DIDNT SNITCH IF YOU READ EVERYTHING IT SAYS IT AT THE TOP, IF YOU WORK AT THEY PRISON THEY CAN GO IN YOUR HOUSE AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DID, SHE SHOULD OF HAD THAT SHIT PUT UP.!!

Comment by young goblin on July 25, 2008 at 5:17pm: dat hoe had dat sack didn't she I hope she get off though because they should have been all up in her damn house

Comment by Rokk on July 25, 2008 at 8:04pm: damn...babygirl had a Rayful Edmonds starter kit...lol...she's about that paper homie..too bad shop's closed..