Pubdate: Wed, 05 Dec 2001 Source: State, The (SC) Website: http://www.thestate.com/ Address: P.O. Box 1333, Columbia, SC 29202 Contact: http://www.thestate.com/ultraboard/ Copyright: 2001 The State Fax: (803)771-8639 Author: Kimathi Lewis DRUG SALES GET 2 MEN LIFE IN JAIL Two Orangeburg men were sentenced to life in prison Tuesday after being found guilty in federal court of bringing cocaine from out of state and selling it in Orangeburg. Timothy Gadson, 32, and Darron Owens, 22, got life without the possibility of parole on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and on charges of distribution of more than 5 kilograms of cocaine as well as more than 50 grams of crack cocaine, according to the U.S. attorney's office. Owens also got 10 years on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, a U.S. attorney's office release shows. The two were found guilty in August after a 1 1/2-week-long trial, the release shows. Testimony at trial also showed evidence Gadson and Owens were involved in the killing of a confidential informant, assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Haynes said. Though only Owens was charged by state prosecutors with the Feb. 8 killing, federal prosecutors presented evidence both men were involved, and it was a factor in their sentencing, Haynes said. Federal agents began investigating Gadson, Owens and others in 2000, the release shows. Gadson and his associates were bringing in the cocaine from Florida, Georgia and Texas since 1987, Haynes said. They would cook it into crack cocaine or sell the powder, officials said. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth