Two federal inmates in Schuylkill County have been indicted on charges in separate weapons-related cases.

The charges were announced by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in Scranton.

Inmates Kajuan Woods, 37, and Patrick Alexander, 36, were each indicted by a federal grand jury on Thursday and charged with possessing contraband in prison.

According to U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on or about March 15, while an inmate at the Federal Correction Institution Schuylkill, Woods possessed an inmate-manufactured weapon, specifically a 4-inch piece of metal sharpened to a point and having a cloth handle.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tatum R. Wilson is prosecuting the case against Woods.

Alexander, also an inmate at the prison near Minersville, was indicted on a charge of possessing a weapon. The indictment alleges that he possessed a 6-inch piece of metal sharpened to a point and having a cord handle on April 3.

Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case against Alexander.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service investigated both cases.

The maximum penalty under federal law for both cases is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and guidelines.