NORFOLK -- A Chesapeake mother and daughter are accused of selling thousands of painkillers and other narcotics nationwide and using Internet chat rooms to advertise their illegal pharmacy.

Sharon C. Brown, 51, and her daughter, Krystal N. Barber, 23, face federal charges of conspiracy to operate drug premises, wire fraud, mail fraud, identity theft and money laundering.

According to court documents, Barber and Brown were arrested on state charges in March after a pharmacist discovered three prescriptions Barber had dropped off were fraudulent. A subsequent federal investigation led to the federal charges.

Barber's attorney, federal public defender Keith Kimball, said the operation was largely run by Brown.

The women are being prosecuted in U.S. District Court in Norfolk.

-- The Associated Press