BARNWELL MAN CONVICTED FOR DRUGS AND GUN

Columbia, South Carolina -- United States Attorney REGINALD I. LLOYD stated today that KELVIN BERNARD BADGER, age 25, of Barnwell, South Carolina, was convicted by a federal jury today in Columbia, South Carolina. BADGER was convicted on both charges contained in his indictment: Felon in Possession of a Firearm, a violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 922(g) and Possession With Intent To Distribute 50 Grams or More of Crack Cocaine, a Quantity of Powder Cocaine and a Quantity of Marijuana, violations of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841. United States District Judge Margaret B. Seymour of Columbia, South Carolina presided over the trial and will impose sentence after she has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the trial established that on March 29, 2006 BADGER possessed a .40 Caliber Glock pistol after having been convicted of state drug trafficking charges in 2001. BADGER was prohibited from possessing a firearm as a result of his state drug trafficking charges. The United States also presented evidence that BADGER attempted to conduct a drug transaction in Barnwell County on April 22, 2006. When Investigator Jeff Croft of the Barnwell County Sheriff's Office attempted to arrest BADGER for the drug transaction, BADGER fled and threw over 50 grams of crack cocaine, approximately 500 grams of powder cocaine and over 800 grams of marijuana out of his vehicle. BADGER was apprehended in July of 2006 after being a fugitive since April 22, 2006, the date of the incident mentioned above.

Mr. Lloyd stated that BADGER is facing a statutory mandatory life sentence without the possibility for parole for the drug conviction due to his prior record.

The case was investigated by Investigators Jeff Croft, John Trottie and Scott Peters, Deputies of the Barnwell County Sheriff抯 Office and Special Agent Mark Kelley, Agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney J.D. Rowell of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.

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