Two Mexican nationals have been indicted on federal charges after authorities allegedly found methamphetamine and firearms during a traffic stop on Interstate 5 in Kings County, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.

A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Manuel Gomez-Sanchez, 39, and David Alejandro Sandoval Canales, 41, charging them with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, according to U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.

Prosecutors said the two men were driving northbound on Interstate 5 on March 24 when they were stopped for traffic violations in Kings County.

According to court documents, a search of the vehicle uncovered about 10 pounds of methamphetamine packaged in 1-pound increments, a digital scale, ammunition, two notebooks allegedly containing records consistent with narcotics sales and purchases, a loaded Beretta semiautomatic handgun and an AR-15 rifle.

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the California Highway Patrol, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Initiative and the High Impact Investigation Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas E. Karp is prosecuting the case.

If convicted on the methamphetamine charge, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, along with fines of up to $10 million. The firearms charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five consecutive years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, prosecutors said.

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