WICHITA — A California man and a citizen of Mexico were charged this week in federal court on charges stemming from a northwest Kansas arrest, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.

Carlos Hernandez, 21, Los Angeles, and Daniel Ortiz-Rivera, 23, a citizen of Mexico, are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute approximately 4 pounds of methamphetamine, and one count of traveling across state lines in furtherance of drug trafficking. The crimes are alleged to have occurred June 5 in Thomas County.

If convicted, they face a penalty of not less than 10 years and a fine up to $10 million on the possession charge, and a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the other charge. The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.