After a year-long investigation into what police alleged was a sophisticated stolen-goods fencing operation, the owners of a used-appliance shop have been arrested and charged in federal court- but with a charge related to drug usage and gun possession, not stolen property.An indictment (PDF) unsealed today from U.S. Atty. Eric Melgren’s office charges both Guy S. Neighbors and his wife, Carrie Neighbors, with one count of possessing firearms while they “were unlawful users of a controlled substance.” Both were arrested today, according to Melgren’s office.The indictment claims that the couple possessed four handguns, four rifles, and three shotguns on or about Dec. 2, 2005, the day Lawrence Police served the first of a series of search warrants at both the store, 1904 Mass., and at the Neighbors’ home in the 1100 block of Andover St. One of the searches of the Neighbors’ home turned up marijuana plants.At the outset of the case, a Lawrence police spokesman said the first search warrants served in December 2005 were part of a two-month investigation into “one of the largest, most sophisticated fencing operations” police had seen, involving stolen goods sold both in the Lawrence area and through the Internet.In the past year, the Neighbors have been vocal in their criticism of police, claiming they were unfairly singled out for the investigation. They claimed that Lawrence police posed as FBI agents while interviewing witnesses- an allegation the FBI said was unfounded – and during one of the searches of the store, legal interns for their attorney picketed in front of the shop with signs including one that read, “Investigate police corruption.”Most recently, Guy Neighbors said earlier this month that he had filed a formal complaint against Lawrence Police alleging that officers had come to the store and begun to question his wife without her attorney present.-contributed by Eric Weslander.