A federal inmate in Schuylkill County has been indicted on a weapons charge.

The charge was announced Wednesday by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in Scranton.

Brayan Giron-Ferman, 22, an inmate at the Federal Correction Institution Schuylkill, near Minersville, was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on the charge of possession of a weapon.

According to U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on Feb. 27, Giron-Ferman possessed a prison-made weapon: a sharpened piece of metal about 7½ inches long with a cloth handle. That type of weapon is commonly known as a shank.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Special Investigative Services of the Federal Bureau of Prisons investigated the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti

The maximum penalty under federal law for the offense is up to five years 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 applicable federal sentencing statutes and the guidelines.