Family members of an accused killer have been charged with smuggling drugs into the Scotland County jail after attempting to bribe a guard, according to Sheriff Shep Jones.

Deputies arrested 25-year old Thomas Scott Ivey and his mother, 44-year old Melody Thomas Ivey, at their 225 N. Main St. home Wednesday at 10:20 a.m, according to a sheriff's report.

Thomas Ivey is charged with felony conspiracy, possession of a schedule IV controlled substance and delivery of a schedule IV controlled substance while Melody Ivey is charged with felony conspiracy.

Also charged was 27-year old William Dean Ivey, III, who is awaiting trial for first-degree murder in the death of 46-year old Michelle Parks. Parks body was found bound with a plastic bag over her head a month ago in her Laurel Hill residence.

William Ivey is charged with felony conspiracy, the report said.

"William Ivey approached one of my detention officers and asked him to give a letter to his brother (Thomas Ivey)," Sheriff Shep Jones said.

William Ivey instructed his brother to give the officer $50 to give him drugs, Jones said. The officer contacted his supervisors about the plot and they set up an undercover operation where the detention officer accepted the bribe and was given nine Xanax pills and tobacco products for William Ivey, the sheriff said.

Tobacco products are banned inside the jail, Jones said.

"Our detention officers are trained to buy contraband," Jones said. "We also have a process in place with our security system that we monitor a lot of the activities that take place."

Thomas Ivey was placed in Scotland County jail under a $50,000 bond while Melody Ivey was put under a $5,000 bond, the report said.

Both were bailed out by Wednesday afternoon, Jones said.

Thomas Ivey was already out on bond awaiting trial after being accused of robbing Diamond's, an internet sweepstakes gaming site in Laurel Hill, and with drug dealing. He is charged in those cases with robbery with a dangerous weapon,

maintaining a drug dwelling, trafficking by manufacturing, trafficking by possession and conspiracy to traffic.

William Ivey was also given a $10,000 bond, but is still being held without bond for the murder charge.

Jones says they are looking at the possibility of moving William to another facility to prevent future problems.