Two Rockbridge County men face federal drug charges after a hunter found marijuana growing in the George Washington National Forest.

Michael J. Shifflett, 46, of Glasgow and his brother Jackson David Shifflett Jr., 51, of Natural Bridge Station are each charged with distributing marijuana and conspiring to distribute marijuana. A grand jury indicted the men Aug. 21, and they were arrested Tuesday. Twenty-two firearms were seized from their residences, a news release issued Thursday by the U.S. attorney's office said.

Julia Dudley, acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia, praised the case's interagency investigation in the release, calling it "a major victory ... in the ongoing war on drugs."

U.S. attorney's office spokesman Brian McGinn said authorities were tipped to the operation by a hunter. Eleven growing patches were found in the national forest, the release said.

The indictment accuses the Shiffletts of growing marijuana at least since May, and of having more than 1,000 plants.

Dudley credited the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Forest Service, Buena Vista Police Department, Rockbridge County Sheriff's Office and Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control with aiding the case.

A grand jury indictment is not a finding of guilt, but a decision that enough evidence exists to try a charge. No trial date is set in the case.

Both men are being held pending bond hearings next week. Michael Shifflett's attorney could not be contacted Thursday afternoon. Jackson Shifflett does not yet have an attorney listed.

-- Mike Gangloff