This article was published on GoErie.com by Tim Hahn on January 14, 2018

OIL CITY — City police charge that a Medina, Ohio, woman was bringing quantities of crystal methamphetamine from Ohio and distributing the drug in the area in December and January.

Deidra R. Cunningham, no age available, was in the Venango County prison on $50,000 bond Sunday following her apprehension at a motel in Sugarcreek Borough on Friday and her arraignment on felony counts of possession with intent to deliver, person not to possess a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license and criminal conspiracy at engaging in the manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver.

The charges stem from an investigation that was launched after Oil City police, while investigating a missing person report, received information that Cunningham had been traveling from the Akron-Cleveland area in December and early January while possessing large amounts of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the drug in the Oil City/Sugarcreek area, police reported on Sunday.

Investigators said they received information from a man during a Dec. 30 interview that Cunningham was able to purchase methamphetamine at a cheap enough price that she could sell it in the Oil City area cheaper than other drug dealers. Police also reported that they learned that Cunningham had reportedly stolen a handgun from a man at an Oil City residence. A felony drug conviction in Ohio prohibits her from possessing a firearm, according to police.

An arrest warrant was issued for Cunningham, and on Friday she was taken into custody at the Knights Inn in Sugarcreek, investigators said.

Cunningham is tentatively scheduled to appear in court for her preliminary hearing on Wednesday morning, according to court documents.