Two Michigan men were arrested as the result of a federal and local investigation into stolen gasoline, Detroit television station WDIV reported.

Michael Omar Malone, 34, and William Shannon Cox have been accused of stealing more than 20,000 gallons of gasoline from Delta Fuels, a fuel distribution company.

Police said Malone and Cox (pictured right and far right) were stealing the fuel and selling it to Detroit-area gas stations for personal profit.

Cox, a truck driver, allegedly obtained the personal identification number of another commercial fuel driver. Investigators said Cox used this PIN to steal the fuel and conspired with Malone to sell it.

Cox and Malone were arraigned Wednesday afternoon.

Both men were charged with two counts, both of which carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison. They could also face fines of $15,000 or three times the value of the property involved -- whichever is greater, according to a Novi, Mich., police news release.

The arrests were expected to be the first in an ongoing joint investigation with the Novi Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation.