Two Texas men are in the DeKalb County Jail, after being caught with illegal firearms on I-59 Monday morning.

According to Sheriff Nick Welden at around 11:00am a DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Interdiction Agent conducted, what began as a routine traffic stop, in the northbound lane of 59 between Collinsville and Ft Payne.   After it was found that the occupants of the vehicle were in possession of a concealed handgun without a permit, both were detained.

A subsequent search revealed that a large number of firearms were concealed inside the vehicle.  Most of those firearms had the serial numbers ground off; this is done by criminals in an effort to avoid having those firearms traced or to hide the fact they’ve been stolen.  It’s believed the firearms were to be sold illegally on the black market.

Nathaniel Jahiem Alexander, age 20, and Isaiah Khawme Alexander, 23, both listed as residents of Richmond, Texas were charged with eight felony counts of altering serial numbers on firearms.  Isaiah Alexander was additionally charged with one count of possession of concealed weapon without a permit.  Both subjects are being held in the DeKalb County Detention Center awaiting bond to be set by a judge.

Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Investigators and the Narcotics Unit also assisted in the arrest and investigation; that case has been referred to the appropriate federal agencies, and more charges may be forthcoming.