Man arrested, accused of selling drugs while working at local cell phone store

BELLE VERNON, Pa. — A man is behind bars after authorities said he was selling drugs outside of a Cricket Wireless store in Westmoreland County while he was working.

Melvin Payne has been charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, two counts of possession with intent to deliver, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful use of a communication facility.

On Nov. 17, members of the Westmoreland County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, K9 Arko, along with Clairton police, Penn Hills police and Monroeville police, executed two simultaneous search warrants related to an ongoing drug investigation — one at the Cricket Wireless store in the Tri-County Plaza in Belle Vernon and another at a home along Union Avenue in Clairton.

Melvin Payne was taken into custody at the Cricket store without incident, according to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office.

As a result, the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office said police seized 30 bricks of heroin, approximately 63.1 grams of cocaine, approximately 42.7 grams of crack cocaine, 2 pounds of marijuana, THC edibles, 90 Alprazolam tablets, 21 Ecstasy tablets, 21 Ecstasy tablets, and $10,077 in U.S. currency.

Payne was arraigned and is in the custody of the Westmoreland County Prison on $200,000 straight cash bond. Additional charges may be pending, according to the DA’s office.

“This significant arrest is critical to not only keeping our communities safe, but this makes a dent in the drug epidemic inflicting pain on so many families. I am incredibly thankful for the collaborative effort among our drug task force, and the police departments in Allegheny County who assisted in this investigation. We will continue to aggressively prosecute offenders who choose to distribute drugs into our neighborhoods, and we will hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” said Westmoreland County District Nicole W. Ziccarelli.

“Thanks to the hard work of our team and our partners in Westmoreland County, a dangerous drug dealer is off the streets. This individual profited pushing dangerous poisons into our communities and devastating families. Today’s arrest marks a continued effort to get these drugs out of our neighborhoods and keep Pennsylvanians safe,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

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