April 19, 1999
Web posted at: 7:21 PM EDT (2321 GMT)

TRENTON, New Jersey (CNN) -- Two state troopers, accused of opening fire on four unarmed men, were indicted Monday by a state grand jury for misconduct and falsifying reports in that shooting last year on the New Jersey Turnpike.

State troopers James Kenna and John Hogan allegedly opened fire on a van carrying four unarmed men last April 23. The incident drew protests over allegations that the state police stopped the shooting victims and other motorists on the basis of their race, a practice known as "racial profiling."

New Jersey State Attorney General Peter Verniero said, "The two officers falsified records by misrepresenting the race of motorists with whom they had official contact. It is alleged that the purpose of the falsifications was to deceive the state police and others who would review these records as to the truthful race of the motorists stopped."

The indictment comes out of a larger investigation of the April 23 shooting. The shooting itself remains under investigation.

If convicted on all counts, the troopers face a prison sentence between 10 and 20 years, and fines up to $300,000. According to the state police, both men have been suspended without pay.