A federal grand jury has indicted Centreville Assistant Police Chief Cory Allen on a charge of making false statements to federal agents.

Allen, 31, was being investigated on suspicions he had sold a gun to a convicted felon when he told federal agents he had not, said U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton.

"In truth and in fact, Allen had previously possessed the firearm and had sold the firearm to (the felon) for $100 on May 3, 2012," Wigginton said in a statement released Wednesday.

The investigation was conducted by the Metro East Public Corruption Task Force, the Internal Revenue Service and the FBI.

The crime is punishable by up to five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and not more than three years supervised release upon release from prison.

Last week, Allen was put on administrative leave with pay because he was under federal investigation, Mayor Marius Jackson said at the time.

Allen said last week he had not been arrested but he declined to comment further.

Jackson said Allen has served the Centreville Police Department for more than five years and was named assistant chief in 2011.

Allen also is a former chief of police with the Alorton Police Department.

Allen began his law enforcement career in Alorton in 2001. He worked there until 2004 when he went to Centreville, where he worked until 2007. He went back to Alorton briefly and then returned to Centreville.