A Lawrence man was indicted on federal drug charges, the first case to go federal since one of Douglas County’s assistant district attorneys was sworn in as a special prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Theogen Edward Garner, 41, was charged with possessing more than 50 grams of crack cocaine with intent to sell.

The federal charges stem from an incident July 21.

Garner faces a much stiffer penalty at the federal level. If convicted, he faces a minimum of 10 years to life in federal prison and a fine of up to $8 million.

If the case had been handled in Douglas County District Court, Garner would be looking at the possibility of two years in prison.